Salah and Marmoush lead Egypt to the USA

Eight years ago in Russia, Egypt didn’t manage to earn a single point, but given the quality of their group and the fact that the best third-placed teams can also advance, the Pharaohs have reason to hope for a spot in the knockout stage of the World Cup. Coach Hosam Hasan has announced the squad that will attempt, on their third try (after also failing in the group stage in 1990), to reach the Round of 16. The list features 27 players, which means one will have to be cut. Hasan will make that decision after a friendly against Russia scheduled for May 28 in Cairo.

Most of the squad comes from the domestic league, and notably, eight of them play for the country’s most successful club, Al Ahly, who finished the current season in third place. Still, that didn’t stop Hasan from selecting nearly a third of his squad from Al Ahly. There was no place for Mostafa Mohamed, who played in all six World Cup qualifying matches. Poor form and limited minutes to end the season, during which he scored just four league goals, cost the Nantes striker a spot on the plane, making his omission the biggest surprise for local fans. After all, Mohamed has earned 61 caps for the national team.

STARS ABROAD: Harambee Stars defender wins league title in Egypt

In his place, Hasan opted for Akhtay Abdalah and Hamza Abdelkarim, an attacking duo that has yet to debut for the senior team. The latter is particularly intriguing, as he is considered the most promising Egyptian talent at the moment. Barcelona even took him on loan from Al Ahly in January, with an option to buy, and Catalonia’s Sport has described him as an unpolished Blaugrana diamond.

He will still get the farewell he deserves — Salah is expected to return in the red shirt

However, with almost no senior experience—just 362 minutes played for Al Ahly—Egypt’s hopes will rest primarily on captain Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush, the team’s biggest stars, and two of only six players currently playing for European clubs. Egypt has been drawn into Group G alongside Belgium, Iran, and New Zealand. As part of their World Cup preparations, they will play friendlies against Russia and Brazil on June 6 in Cleveland.