Egypt's national team coach, Hossam Hassan, announced the final squad that will compete in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, scheduled to be held in Morocco. Egyptian sports fans are eagerly anticipating the Pharaohs' performance in the continent's premier tournament, hoping they can reclaim the title that has eluded the national team since 2010.
Historical background and ambitious goals
Egypt enters the tournament holding the record for the most titles with seven, the last of which was won in the 2010 edition held in Angola. Since then, the Egyptian national team has reached the final twice, in 2017 against Cameroon and in 2021 against Senegal, but has yet to secure an eighth title. This edition comes under the leadership of Egyptian coach Hossam Hassan, one of the most prominent legends of Egyptian football, adding a special dimension and great ambition to both the fans and the players to reclaim African dominance.
A balanced roster combining experience and professionalism
The 28-man squad boasts a remarkable balance between experienced players, professionals based abroad, and stars of the domestic league. Leading the list is global superstar Mohamed Salah, the team's captain and Liverpool's top scorer, who is expected to guide the current generation to glory. Alongside him stand influential professional players such as Omar Marmoush, winger for Eintracht Frankfurt, Mostafa Mohamed, striker for Nantes, and Mahmoud Hassan "Trezeguet" of Trabzonspor, who form the team's formidable attacking force.
Local dominance and regional influence
The squad selection reflected Hossam Hassan's reliance on the core players from Egypt's two football giants, Al Ahly and Zamalek, with a large number of their players called up to ensure cohesion and understanding on the pitch. The squad also included prominent players from other clubs such as Pyramids FC and Al Masry, as well as professionals playing in Gulf leagues like Hamdi Fathi (Al Wakrah, Qatar). The success of a national team of Egypt's stature in the tournament would not only have an impact on the domestic scene but would also have a regional influence, as the Pharaohs are always considered one of the major footballing powers in Africa and the Middle East.
The Road to the Eighth Title
The draw placed Egypt in Group B, where they will begin their campaign in the tournament being held in Morocco against Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Angola. Although the group appears manageable on paper, African championships are always full of surprises, and Hossam Hassan's squad will have to approach each match with utmost seriousness to achieve their goal of advancing to the knockout stages and competing strongly for Egypt's eighth title.
The full list is as follows:
- Goalkeepers: Mohamed El Shenawy (Al Ahly) – Ahmed El Shenawy (Pyramids) – Mostafa Shobeir (Al Ahly) – Mohamed Sobhi (Zamalek)
- Defense line: Mohamed Hany (Al Ahly) – Ahmed Eid (Al Masry) – Ramy Rabia (Al Ahly) – Khaled Sobhi (Al Masry) – Yasser Ibrahim (Al Ahly) – Mohamed Ismail (Zamalek) – Hossam Abdel Meguid (Zamalek) – Mohamed Hamdy (Pyramids) – Ahmed Fatouh (Zamalek)
- Midfielders: Marwan Attia (Al Ahly) – Hamdi Fathi (Al Wakrah, Qatar) – Mohannad Lasheen (Pyramids) – Mahmoud Saber (Zed) – Mohamed Shehata (Zamalek) – Emam Ashour (Al Ahly) – Ahmed Mostafa “Zizo” (Zamalek) – Mahmoud Hassan “Trezeguet” (Trabzonspor, Turkey) – Ibrahim Adel (Al Jazira, UAE) – Mostafa Fathi (Pyramids) – Omar Marmoush (Eintracht Frankfurt, Germany) – Mohamed Salah (Liverpool, England)
- Attackers: Mostafa Mohamed (Nantes, France) – Salah Mohsen (Al Masry, Port Said) – Osama Faisal (Al Ahly Bank)
