Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan has revealed the 28-man squad for the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations, which will be held in Morocco this month.
Mohamed Salah leads the team, which also includes Manchester City forward Omar Marmoush and Nantes striker Mostafa Mohamed, as the only five foreign-based players alongside Hamdy Fathy (Al-Wakrah, Qatar) and Ibrahim Adel (Al-Jazira, UAE).
The record holders have not won an African title since 2010 and will be desperate to end that run in Morocco, where they are placed in Group B that has 1996 champions South Africa, 2012 winners Zambia and Angola.
Ahly midfielder Emam Ashour and Pyramids FC winger Mostafa Fathi were both included despite limited minutes this season following injuries.
Ahly defender Yasser Ibrahim returned to the squad after missing the November camp.
The key omission is Al Ahly fullback Ahmed “Kouka” Nabil, a regular member under Hassan and his place has been taken by Zamalek left back Ahmed Fatouh, currently in good form.
Egypt will play Nigeria in a friendly at Cairo Stadium on 14 December in their only warm-up match before the tournament.
The Pharaohs reached the final in 2017 and 2021, losing to Cameroon and Senegal, respectively.
Egypt Squad:
Goalkeepers: Mohamed El Shenawy, Mostafa Shobeir (Ahly); Mohamed Sobhi (Zamalek); Ahmed El Shenawy (Pyramids FC).
Defenders: Rami Rabia (Al-Ain, UAE); Mohamed Hany, Yasser Ibrahim (Ahly); Khaled Sobhy, Ahmed Eid (Masry); Hossam Abdelmaguid, Mohamed Ismail, Ahmed Fatouh (Zamalek); Mohamed Hamdy (Pyramids FC).
Midfielders: Hamdy Fathy (Al-Wakrah, Qatar); Mohamed Shehata (Zamalek); Marwan Attia, Ahmed “Zizo” Sayed, Emam Ashour, Mahmoud Trezeguet (Ahly); Mahmoud Saber (ZED FC); Mohanad Lasheen; Mostafa Fathi (Pyramids FC); Omar Marmoush (Manchester City, England); Mohamed Salah (Liverpool, England); Ibrahim Adel (Al-Jazira, UAE).
Forwards: Mostafa Mohamed (Nantes, France); Osama Faisal (NBE Club); Salah Mohsen (Masry).