Record seven-time AFCON winners Egypt kick off their Nations Cup campaign against Nigeria on 11 January. They will also face Sudan and Guinea-Bissau in Group D.
The Pharaohs squad included 25 players, led by Liverpool star Mohamed Salah. There was a return call for Mahmoud Hassan “Trezeguet” of Aston Villa player, after a long period of absence due to a knee injury.
Ahly playmaker Magdi Afsha was a surprise exclusion from the Egypt squad.
Afsha, who played an instrumental role in steering Ahly to two back-to-back African Champions League titles, has been a key member of Egypt’s squad over the past two years.
He was also part of the Pharaohs’ roster for the FIFA Arab Cup earlier this month but some recent uninspiring displays have prompted Queiroz to drop him.
Pyramids’ veteran schemer Abdallah El-Said, 36, is now expected to assume Egypt’s playmaking duties at the biennial tournament.
Other notable absentees include Zamalek’s defensive midfielder Tarek Hamed, who was left out of the preliminary squad, club teammate Mostafa Fathi and Konyaspor’s on-loan striker Ahmed ‘Kouka’ Hassan.
Egypt’s full squad
Goalkeepers: Mohamed El-Shennawy (Ahly), Mohamed Abo Gabal (Zamalek), Mohamed Sobhy (Farco), Mahmoud Gad (Enppi)
Defenders: Ayman Ashraf (Ahly), Ahmed Fatouh (Zamalek), Ahmed Hegazy (Ittihad of Jeddah), Akram Tawfik (Ahly), Mahmoud ‘El-Wensh’ Hamdi (Zamalek), Mahmoud Alaa (Zamalek), Mohamed Abdel-Monem (Future FC), Omar Kamal (Future FC)
Midfielders: Amr El-Sulaya (Ahly), Emam Ashour (Zamalek), Abdallah El-Saied (Pyramids FC), Mohamed Elneny (Arsenal), Ahmed Sayed Zizo (Zamalek), Hamdy Fathy (Ahly), Mohanad Lasheen (Talae El-Geish)
Forwards: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Mostafa Mohamed (Galatasaray), Omar Marmoush (Stuttgart), Mahmoud ‘Trezeguet’ Hassan (Aston Villa), Ramadan Sobhy (Pyramids FC), Mohamed Sherif (Ahly)
