Mohamed Salah has been named in the Pharaohs’ 28-man squad for the final two Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier games as Egypt look to book their place in the AFCON finals.
Egypt are currently on top of Group G with 8 points, and only need a draw in Kenya or a win at home against Comoros to guarantee their place in Cameroon for next year’s AFCON.
Mostafa Fathi – who last played international football in 2017 and Mohamed Farouk, whose only cap came in 2014, have both been recalled to the Egypt squad.
Amazingly, 23 of the 28 players picked, are from Egypt’s first division – Egyptian Premier League.
Trezeguet and Salah were called up for Egypt’s last 2 qualifiers while Ahmed Elmohamady (R) was left out. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/ Getty Images)
It is no surprise that 8 of the players of these 22 are from Egyptian and African champions Al Ahly, including captain and champion goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shennawy.
There are 5 players each from the other 2 top Egyptian clubs – Pyramids and Zamalek.
Amer Amer and Ahmed Yasser Rayan from Ceramica Cleopatra also got called up to the squad along with Mostafa Fathi and Hossam Hassan from Smouha.
Goalkeeper Mohamed Bassam is the only player to get picked from Tala’a El-Gaish, completing the list of 23 domestic players for the Pharaohs.
The 5 players who play their football outside of Egypt, feature in the Premier League – Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, Arsenal’s Mohamed Elneny and Aston Villa’s Trezeguet.
Ahmed Hegazi has been a focal point of Egypt’s defence so it is no surprise that the former West Bromwich Albion defender, who now plays for Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ittihad, received a call-up once again.
Mostafa Mohamed, who is on loan at Galatasaray from Zamalek, has also been called up by Hossam El Badry to strengthen the attacking line.
Egypt should secure the top spot in their group in their quest for another AFCON title as they remain one of the heavyweights in African football.
Most of Egypt’s players are the same as those who featured in the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia (Photo by Alexander DemianchukTASS via Getty Images)
Here is the full Egypt squad
Goalkeepers: Mohamed El-Shennawy (Al Ahly), Mahmoud Gennesh (Zamalek), Mohamed Bassam (Tala’a El-Gaish), Amer Amer (Ceramica Cleopatra)
Defenders: Mohamed Hany, Ayman Ashraf, Yasser Ibrahim (Al Ahly), Omar Gaber, Ali Gabr, Ahmed Ayman Mansour (Pyramids), Ahmed Fetouh, Mahmoud El-Wensh (Zamalek), Ahmed Hegazi (Al-Ittihad, Jeddah).
Midfielders: Mohamed Elneny (Arsenal), Amr El-Sulya, Hamdi Fathi, Mohamed Magdy Afsha (Al Ahly), Tarek Hamed, Ahmed Sayed Zizo (Zamalek), Trezeguet (Aston Villa), Mohamed Farouk, Islam Issa (Pyramids), Mostafa Fathi (Smouha)
Forwards: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Mostafa Mohamed (Galatasaray), Hossam Hassan (Smouha), Ahmed Yasser Rayan (Ceramica Cleopatra), Mohamed Sherif (Al Ahly)
