Carlos Queiroz announces 24-man local based players ahead of Egypt FIFA World Cup game against Libya
Egypt newly appointed Coach Carlos Queiroz has announced a 24-man squad of the local-based players ahead of the double-encounter against Libya in the World Cup qualifiers.
Egypt will be hosting Libya behind closed doors in Alexandria on 8 October in the third round of the qualifiers, before visiting the North African rivals three days later in Benghazi in the fourth round.
Pyramids FC Ibrahim Adel, Farco’s keeper Mohamed Sobhy and Talae El-Geish midfielder Mohanad Lasheen got their first ever call up for the national team by the Portuguese coach in the Pharaohs’ squad for the Libya games.
Egypt are currently in second place in Group F with four points after defeating Angola 1-0 in the first round and equalising with Gabon 1-1 in the second round.
Meanwhile, Libya are leading the group with six points after defeating both Gabon 2-1 and Angola 1-0.
The EFA revealed earlier that the national team will be playing a friendly against Liberia on 30 September at Borg El-Arab Stadium, which will be Queiroz’s first outing as Egypt’s coach.
In early September, Queiroz was hired after the sacking of coach Hossam El-Badry following severe criticism of the national team’s performance in the early games against Angola and Gabon World Cup qualifiers.
Last Sunday, Queiroz called up nine foreign-based players for the two upcoming Libya games, including Liverpool star winger Mohamed Salah and Arsenal’s midfielder Mohamed El-Neny.
Ittihad Jeddah’s defender Ahmed Hegazi, striker Ahmed ‘Kouka’ Hassan of Konyaspor, Sam Morsi of Ipswich Town FC, Omar Marmoush of Stuttgart, Galatasaray’s in-form striker Mostafa Mohamed, Ahmed Yasser Rayan of Altay and Karim Hafez of Yeni Malatyaspor were also called up for the two games.
The Egyptian team is due to start a closed camp on 28 September.
Egypt’s 24 man local-based squad:
Goalkeepers: Mohamed El-Shenawy (Ahly), Mohamed Abou Gabal (Zamalek), Mohamed Bassam (Talae El-Geish), Mohamed Sobhy (Farco)
Defenders: Ahmed Fatouh (Zamalek), Mohamed Abdel-Shafi (Zamalek), Mahmoud ‘El-Wensh’ Hamdi (Zamalek), Ayman Ashraf (Ahly), Ali Gabr (Pyramids FC), Baher Elmohamady (Ismaily), Ahmed Tawfik (Pyramids FC), Akram Tawfik (Ahly)
Midfielders: Hamdy Fathy (Ahly), Amr El-Sulaya (Ahly), Tarek Hamed (Zamalek), Mohanad Lasheen (Talae El-Geish), Mohamed Magdi ‘Afsha’ (Ahly), Abdallah El-Said (Pyramids FC), Mostafa Fathi (Zamalek), Ramadan Sobhi (Pyramids FC), Ibrahim Adel (Pyramids FC), Ahmed Sayed Zizo (Zamalek), Ahmed Samir (Talae El-Geish)
Strikers: Mohamed Sherif (Ahly)
