Nigerias’ opponent at the 2021 AFCON, Egypt has announced a 40 man provisional squad which will be pruned to 23 before the tournament
By Kehinde Okeowo
While Nigeria just sacked Gernot Rohr and appointed an interim manager some weeks before the commencement of the 2021 African Cup of Nations scheduled to hold in Cameroon between 9 January and 6 February.
Egypt, who are in Group D with Nigeria, Guinea-Bissau, and Sudan. have announced a 40-man provisional list for the African soccer fiesta.
According to a statement by the Egyptian Football Association (EFA), the preliminary squad will eventually be pruned down to a 23-man squad, which will be announced by the end of December.
The team which is made up of predominantly homegrown players also boast of foreign-based players such as Liverpool star Mohamed Salah, Arsenals’ midfielder Mohamed Elneny and Aston Villas’ winger Mahmoud ‘Trezeguet’ Hassa, and Galatasarays’ striker, Mostafa Mohamed.
The Pharaohs key midfielder Tarek Hamed who plays for Zamalek was however omitted from Queiroz’s 40 man list, just as he was excluded from the recent FIFA Arab Cup squad.
Queiroz also dropped Smouha winger Hussein Faisal while Ghazl El-Mahalla’s defender Mohamed Fathallah got his first international call up in Sunday’s announced squad.
According to Completesports.com, Queiroz didn’t call any of the foreign-based players for the Arab Cup given the tournament falls outside of the normal international calendar.
ALSO READ : Enyimba sacked from CAF Confederation Cup despite win
He said repeatedly before the Arab Cup that he would use it to try out new strategies and inject fresh blood before the AFCON and the World Cup qualifying playoff in March.
Queiroz will attempt to lead Egypt to win their 8th title in Cameroon, as the North African side has won the tournament 7 times, making them the most successful side in the tournament.
Egypt’s 40-man provisional list
Goalkeepers:
Mohamed El-Shennawy (Ahly), Mohamed Fawzy (Ismaily), Mohamed Sobhy (Farco), Mahmoud Gad (Enppi)
Defenders:
Ayman Ashraf (Ahly), Ahmed Fatouh (Zamalek), Ahmed Hegazy (Ittihad of Jeddah), Akram Tawfik (Ahly), Mahmoud ‘El-Wensh’ Hamdi (Zamalek), Mahmoud Alaa (Zamalek), Ahmed Yassin (NBE), Mohamed Hany (Ahly), Mohamed Abdel-Monem (Future FC), Mohamed Hamdy (Pyramids FC), Mohamed Fathallah (Ghazl El-Mahalla), Ahmed Ramadan Beckham (Smouha), Marawan Dawoud (Enppi)
Midfielders:
Omar Kamal (Future FC), Amr El-Sulaya (Ahly), Mostafa Fathi (Zamalek), Mohamed Magdi “Afsha” (Ahly), Emam Ashour (Zamalek), Mohamed Elneny (Arsenal), Abdallah El-Said (Pyramids FC), Ramadan Sobhy (Pyramids FC), Ahmed Sayed Zizo (Zamalek), Ibrahim Adel (Pyramids FC), Ahmed Refaat (Future FC), Nabil ‘Dunga’ Emad (Pyramids FC), Hamdy Fathy (Ahly), Mohanad Lasheen (Talae El-Geish)
Forwards:
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Mostafa Mohamed (Galatasaray), Omar Marmoush (Stuttgart), Marwan Hamdy (Smouha), Ahmed “Kouka” Hassan (Konyaspor), Ahmed Yasser Rayyan (Altay), Mahmoud ‘Trezeguet’ Hassan (Aston Villa), Mohamed Sherif (Ahly).
