Egypt legend Ahmed Hossam Mido has criticised Rui Vitoria’s selections for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, accusing the Portuguese manager of a football crime.
The Pharaohs are set to take part in the 2023 AFCON next month as they have been drawn in Group B along with Ghana, Cape Verde, and Mozambique.
Last Saturday, Rui Vitoria has announced his 27-man squad for the upcoming AFCON, which included several surprises, most notably the exclusion of Al Ahly defender Yasser Ibrahim.
Ibrahim had an exceptional Club World Cup campaign, guiding the Reds to the bronze medal following a string of strong performances against Ittihad Jeddah, Fluminense, and Urawa Red Diamonds.
Vitoria instead decided to call up Pyramids FC defender Ahmed Samy ahead of Ibrahim, something which Mido labelled as a football crime, while also expressing his opinion on the calling-ups of Mohamed Sobhi and Ahmed Hassan Kouka.
“All support to Vitoria and the Egyptian national team in the Africa Cup of Nations, and all support to the players joining the team. However, the squad has a lot of very big question marks,” Mido said.
“Calling up Mohamed Sobhi, a goalkeeper who hasn’t played with Zamalek for over two months, is not the strongest list for the available Egyptian players now. When you go to AFCON, the future doesn’t matter; the most important thing is to go with the strongest team that can win the title.
“But was it better to call up Sobhi, who hasn’t played for two months? Mahmoud Gad played in the last match against ENPPI and he’s 25 years old, a goalkeeper for the future, shining on the field, and his position needs a player with match fitness.
“I heard one of the officials say that Vitoria is not above evaluation. Every coach has his mistakes; no one is above evaluation, not even Pep Guardiola. I will support the Egyptian national team, but there are many question marks on the list.
“Not calling up Yasser Ibrahim to the national team, in my opinion, is a football crime.
“After the recent Club World Cup, with all due respect to the other names on the lists, except for Ahmed Hegazi and Mohamed Abdelmoneim, Ibrahim should have been called up as a third defender, ahead of Ali Gabr, Ahmed Samy, and Osama Galal.
“I speak in terms of football, with all due respect to the Pyramids trio, Yasser Ibrahim should have been called up ahead of them.
“If any defender gets injured in the AFCON, Yasser Ibrahim should be the first substitute because he has been very good recently. How was he not called up? If you are stubborn, you won’t do that.
“What has Ahmed Hassan Kouka offered with his club or Egypt before to be called up ahead of Mohamed Sherif or Oufa? Kouka played four matches in the league with his club, didn’t score, didn’t assist, and has no history with the national team to justify his inclusion.
“In my opinion, Kouka’s inclusion in the Egyptian national team is favoritism. These are not technical choices; there are things I don’t understand.
“Vitoria called up Mahmoud Hamada, a player who plays in the number 8 position. Is Hamada better than Abdallah El-Said? Does he have more experience and attacking capabilities? Is Hamada a player for the future? He’s a 30-year-old player, and there are significant question marks in Vitoria’s choices.”
