Egypt team squad African Cup of Nations 2022: which players have been selected?

Just over a decade has passed since Egypt were last crowned champions of Africa but Carlos Queiroz’s Pharoahs go into this edition of the Africa Cup of Nations among the favourites to lift the trophy, along with Senegal, Algeria and the Ivory Coast. Egypt start the tournament in Group D alongside Sudan, Guinea-Bissau and Nigeria and their campaign begins in Garoua on Tuesday when they face the Super Eagles - arguably their toughest test of the group stage. Securing top spot in the group will likely be a battle between the two nations although . The champions and runners-up in each of the six groups advance to the Last 16.

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Covid-19 disrruption

Queiroz has included six players based at foreign clubs in his squad for the tournament. Liverpool will miss their top scorer Mohamed Salah over the next few weeks and hope that he returns safe and sound. Unfortunately, Egypt haven’t escaped the rampant global surge in positive Covid cases - reserve goalkeeper Gabaski and goalkeeping coach Essam al-Hadary also returned positive tests, as did two players on the reserve list: striker Marwan Hamdi and winger Ibrahim Adel, both of whom have fallen from the B list. Enppi left-back Marwan Daoud, who only made his debut for the senior side at last month’s Arab Cup, has been drafted in at the last minute to replace Hamdi.

Aston Villa midfielder Mahmoud Trezeguet has been recalled after a period out on the sidelines. He underwent surgery to repair a damaged cruciate ligament in April last year and missed six 2022 World Cup qualifiers, September’s friendly against Liberia plus the Arab Cup. His last appearance was in the 4-0 win over Comoros in the AFCON qualifiers back in March 2021.

Queiroz has also included two emerging stars - Galatasaray forward Mostafa Mohamed and Stuttgart midfielder Omar Marmoush, both of whom have represented Egypt at youth level and will be eager to gain experience at a major tournament.

There was no room this time for Al-Ahly winger Mohamed Magdy Afsha or veteran midfielder Tarek Hamed. Egypt's campaign begins on Tuesday 11 January against Nigeria.

Egypt squad

Goalkeepers: Mohamed El-Shennawy (Al Ahly), Mohamed Sobhi (Pharco), Mohamed Abou Gabal (Zamalek), Mahmoud Gad (Enppi)

Defenders: Ahmed Fatouh (Zamalek), Mahmoud Alaa (Zamalek), Mahmoud Hamdy El-Wensh (Zamalek), Ayman Ashraf (Al-Ahly), Akram Tawfik (Al-Ahly), Omar Kamal (Future), Mohamed Abdel-Moneim (Future), Ahmed Hegazi (Ittihad Jeddah)

Midfielders: Hamdi Fathi (Al-Ahly), Amr El-Sulya (Al-Ahly), Emam Ashour (Zamalek), Ahmed Sayed Zizo (Zamalek), Abdallah El-Said (Pyramids), Ramadan Sobhi (Pyramids), Mohamed Elneny (Arsenal), Omar Marmoush (VfB Stuttgart), Mohanad Lasheen (Tala'a El-Gaish, Egypt), Mahmoud Trezeguet (Aston Villa)

Forwards: Mostafa Mohamed (Galatasaray), Mohamed Sherif (Al-Ahly), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool).