The Egyptian national team manager Rui Carlos Pinho da Vitória has named his final 27-man squad for the upcoming 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to be hosted by Ivory Coast starting January 13, 2023.
Vitória’s selections contained a few surprises, notably the omission of veteran wingers Abdallah El-Saied, Ramadan Sobhi and Hussien El Shahat who had been regular fixtures in the Pharaohs squad in recent years.
The final roster contains a mixture of experienced campaigners and young talents. Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah and Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny will provide leadership, while defenders Ahmed Hegazi and Ali Gabr bring physicality and grit. Young Zamalek duo Mahmoud Alaa and Ibrahim Adel earned their first national call-ups after impressive club seasons.
Giants Ahly contributes the most players with four, indicative of their domestic dominance. Pyramids FC and Zamalek each had three representatives, while El Masry had one. Overseas stars plying their trade in England, Germany, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey also made the cut.
In attack, Salah and Mostafa Mohamed will be relied upon to put the goals past opponents, keen to triumph on West African soil
Egypt are eyeing a record-extending 8th African crown, after failing to Achieve it in last edition, losing to Senegal in the funal.
Egypt are in Group B together giants Ghana, Cape Verde and Mozambique
Vitoria will hope his selections can help deliver long-awaited continental glory.
Goalkeepers: Mohamed El-Shennawy (Ahly), Mohamed Sobhi (Zamalek), Ahmed El-Shennawy (Pyramids FC), Mohamed Abu Gabal (NBE Club).
Defenders: Ahmed Hegazi (Ittihad Jeddah- Saudi Arabia), Mohamed Abdelmonem, Mohamed Hani (Ahly), Ali Gabr, Osama Galal, Ahmed Sami, Mohamed Hamdi (Pyramids FC), Omar Kamal (Modern Future FC) and Ahmed Fattouh (Zamalek).
Midfielders: Emam Ashour, Ahmed Nabil Koka, Marwan Attia (Ahly), Hamdi Fathi (Al-Wakrah SC – Qatar), Mohamed Elneny (Arsenal – England), Ahmed “Zizo” Sayed (Zamalek) and Mahmoud Hamada (Masry).
Strikers: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool – England), Mostafa Fathi (Pyramids FC), Omar Marmoush (Eintracht Frankfurt – Germany), Mahmoud “Trezeguet” Hassan (Trabzonspor – Turkey), Mostafa Mohamed (FC Nantes – France), Mahmoud ‘Kahraba’ Abdel-Moneim (Ahly) and Ahmed ‘Kouka’ Hassan (Pendikspor – Turkey).