Egypt Announces 23-Man Final Squad for FIFA Arab Cup in Qatar

On Saturday, Egypt’s coach Carlos Queiroz announced the final 23-man squad for the FIFA Arab Cup, which will run from 30 November to 18 December in Qatar.

The Pharaohs were drawn in Group D of the FIFA Arab Cup alongside Algeria, Sudan, and Lebanon

In its opening game, Egypt will play against Lebanon on 1 December.

“The final squad depended mainly on choosing new faces amid preparations for the national team’s future commitments and also to enlarge the team’s selection base,” read a short statement by the  Egyptian Football Association (EFA).

Future FC’s defender Mohamed Abdel-Moneim, Future FC’s defender Omar Kamal, NBE’s striker Osama Faisal and Smouha’s striker Hussein Faisal got their first-ever national team call-up under Queiroz for the Arab Cup.

Pyramids FC playmakers Abdallah El-Said and Ramadan Sobhi, and Ahly’s winger Hussein El-Shahat were also excluded despite being included before in the preliminary squad.

Queiroz didn't call any of the foreign-based players in the Arab Cup squad, with the tournament falling outside of the normal international calendar.

The Arab Cup comprises 23 Arab nations, including several North African and Asian heavyweights, such as Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, and Saudi Arabia.

The nine highest-ranked teams were automatically given group-stage spots. They will be joined by the seven winners of the qualifying stage. The top two in each group will advance to the quarter-finals.

Egypt’s final 23-man squad

Goalkeepers: Mohamed El-Shennawy (Ahly), Mahmoud Gad (Enppi), Mohamed Sobhy (Farco)

Defenders: Ahmed Fatouh (Zamalek), Mohamed Abdel-Moneim (Future FC), Ahmed Yassin (NBE club), Mahmoud "El-Wensh" Hamdi (Zamalek), Ayman Ashraf (Ahly), Akram Tawfik (Ahly), Marwan Dawoud (Enppi)

Midfielders: Hamdy Fathy (Ahly), Amr El-Sulaya (Ahly), Mohanad Lasheen (Talae El-Geish), Emama Ashour (Zamalek), Mohamed Magdi "Afsha" (Ahly), Mostafa Fathi (Zamalek), Ahmed Sayed Zizo (Zamalek), Ahmed Refaat (Masry), Omar Kamal (Future FC)

Strikers: Mohamed Sherif (Ahly), Marwan Hamdy (Smouha), Osama Faisal (NBE club), Hussein Faisal (Smouha)