CAIRO – Egypt’s technical coach Carlos Queiroz has announced a provisional 40-man squad, as The Pharaohs start their preparations for the impending Africa Cup of Nations, Cameroon 2021.
The Portuguese tactician kept most of his squad that recently took part in the FIFA Arab Cup 2021.
Remarkably, the notable abroad based players were added to the list after missing the Qatar based tournament that saw Egypt finishing in the fourth place.
The provisional list, led by Liverpool superstar and Egypt Captain Mohamed Salah, had eight abroad based players, including Aston Villa winger Mahmoud Hassan “Trezeguet” who returns after almost a full year away with knee injury.
There was a place for some new faces like Ghazl el-Mahalla defender Mohamed Fathalla and Smouha full back player Ahmed Ramadan “Beckham”.
Egypt will start the preparatory camp on December 27. Seven times’ African champions The Pharaohs are based in AFCON Group D alongside Nigeria, Sudan and Guinea Bissau.
Egypt will commence their campaign against Nigeria on January 11 at the Roumde Adjia Stadium in Garoua.
Four days later, they will square up against Guinea Bissau at the same venue before clashing with Sudan on January 19 at the Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, Yaounde.
Provisional List:
Goalkeepers: Mohamed Elshenawy (Al-Ahly), Mohamed Bassam (Talae el-Geish), Mohamed Sobhy (Pharco), Mohamed Abu Gabal (Zamalek), Mahmoud Gad (Enppi)
Defenders: Ayman Ashraf (Al-Ahly), Ahmed Aboul Fotouh (Zamalek), Ahmed Hegazi (Al-Ittihad, Saudi Arabia), Omar Kamal (Future), Ahmed Ramadan “Beckham” (Smouha), Mahmoud Hamdy (Zamalek), Mahmoud Alaa (Zamalek), Mohamed Hany (Al-Ahly), Ahmed Yaseen (National Bank), Mohamed Fathalla (Ghazl el-Mahalla), Mohamed Abdel Meneam (Future), Mohamed Hamdy (Pyramids), Akram Tawfeek (Al-Ahly), Marwan Dawood (Enppi)
Midfielders: Amr Elsouleya (Al-Ahly), Moustafa Fathy (Zamalek), Mohamed Magdy “Afsha” (Al-Ahly), Emam Ashour (Zamalek), Mohamed Elneny (Arsenal, England), Abdullah el-Said (Pyramids), Ramadan Sobhy (Pyramids), Ahmed Sayed “Zizo” (Zamalek), Ibrahim Adel (Pyramids), Ahmed Refaat (Future), Nabil Emad “Donga” (Pyramids), Hamdy Fathy (Al-Ahly), Mohanad Lasheen (Talae el-Geish)
Forwards: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool, England), Mahmoud Hassan “Trezeguet” (Aston Villa, England), Moustafa Mohamed (Galatasaray, Turkey), Omar Marmoush (Stuttgart, Germany), Marwan Hamdy (Smouha), Ahmed Hassan “Koka” (Konyaspor, Turkey), Ahmed Yasser Rayan (Altayspor, Turkey), Mohamed Sherif (Al-Ahly).
