Egypt manager Hector Cuper has named his final 23-man squad that will represent the Pharaohs at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
The Egyptian football fans will be delighted that Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah and Arsenal’s midfielder Mohamed Elneny were included despite both facing a race against time to regain fitness before the World Cup.
He also decided to stick with veteran goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary, which means the 45-year-old could become the oldest player to play in a World Cup if he features.
The Argentinian gaffer had to drop 6 players (a goalkeeper and five other player) from his initial 29-man preliminary squad to cut the number to the required 23.
The biggest surprise was the omission of Braga striker Ahmed “Kouka” Hassan, which means the final Egyptian team will only have one traditional striker, Marawan Mohsen.
Other than Kouka, the other players who didn’t make the cut are Zamalek’s Mahmoud Abdel-Aziz Ismaily keeper Mohamed Awaad, Orlando City’s Amro Tarek, Al Masry forward Ahmed Gomaa, and RC Lens’ Karim Hafez.
The Pharaohs will make one final stop in Brussels for their final warm-up match against Belgium on Wednesday 6th, before flying to Russia to make their first World Cup appearance since 1990.
The seven time African Champions will then kick-off their World Cup campaign next Friday, June 15 against Uruguay, before facing the hosts Russia on Tuesday, June 19. Their final group game will be against Saudi Arabia on Monday, June 25.
Final Squad:
Goalkeepers.
Essam El-Hadary (Al Taawoun), Mohamed El-Shennawy (Al Ahly), Sherif Ekramy (Al Ahly).
Defenders.
Ahmed Fathi (Al Ahly), Saad Samir (Al Ahly), Ayman Ashraf (Al Ahly), Mohamed AbdelShafy (Al Ahli), Ahmed Hegazi (West Brom), Ali Gabr (Zamalek), Ahmed Elmohamady (Aston Villa), Omar Gaber (LAFC), Mahmoud Hamdy El-Wensh (Zamalek).
Midfielders
Tarek Hamed (Zamalek), Mahmoud Abdel-Razik Shikabala (Zamalek), Abdallah El-Said (Al Ahli), Sam Morsy (Wigan), Mohamed Elneny (Arsenal), Mahmoud Kahraba (Zamalek), Ramadan Sobhi (Stoke City), Mahmoud Trezeguet (Kasimpasa), Amr Warda (PAOK).
Forwards.
Marwan Mohsen (Al Ahly), Mo Salah (Liverpool)
Featured Image: Courtesy of Getty Images)
