The Egyptian national football team, led by Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz, will start their training camp at the Cairo International Stadium on Thursday, in preparation for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cameroon, which will run from 9 January to 6 February.
The Pharaohs will start their AFCON campaign on 11 January in Garoua city, where they meet Nigeria in Group D, which also includes Sudan and Guinea Bissau. Going into the tournament, Egypt are one of the favourites to win the title as they are the record holders with seven continental trophies.
Wael Gomaa, Egypt’s first national team manager, revealed that the team will train at the Cairo Stadium and will stay in a hotel near the stadium. The coaching staff of the national team decided to give those who play in foreign leagues a three-day rest before joining the training camp. The team’s closed camp will start on 2 January.
A state of confusion dominated the national team for not playing any friendly matches before the African championship, as the Football Association failed to agree with any team to play a friendly match before the start of the AFCON.
Queiroz announced the squad for the competition on Wednesday, which comprised 25 players, including six foreign-based players led by Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Arsenal’s Mohamed Elneny, while Ahmed Hassan Kouka and Ahmed Yasser Rayan were both excluded.
Egypt’s squad
Goalkeepers: Mohamed El-Shennawy (Al Ahly), Mohamed Sobhi (Pharco), Mohamed Abogabal (Zamalek), and Mahmoud Gad (ENPPI).
Defenders: Ahmed Fatouh, Mahmoud Alaa, and Mahmoud Hamdy El-Wensh (Zamalek); Ayman Ashraf and Akram Tawfik (Al Ahly); Omar Kamal and Mohamed Abdel-Moneim (Future); and Ahmed Hegazi (Ittihad Jeddah).
Midfielders: Hamdi Fathi and Amr El-Sulya (Al Ahly); Emam Ashour and Ahmed Sayed Zizo (Zamalek); Abdallah El-Said and Ramadan Sobhi (Pyramids); Mohamed Elneny (Arsenal); Mohamed Salah (Liverpool); Omar Marmoush (VfB Stuttgart); Mohanad Lasheen (Tala’a El-Gaish); and Mahmoud Hassan “Trezeguet” (Aston Villa).
Forwards: Mostafa Mohamed (Galatasaray) and Mohamed Sherif (Al Ahly).
