Maher, Mostafa called-up as Egypt U-23 announce squad for Russia friendly

Photo: Al Ahly SC

Egypt U-23 national team head coach Shawky Gharib has announced the squad list in preparation for the friendly against Russia on September 7.

The Pharaohs will enter a closed camp on Monday and then travel to Russia on Wednesday, two days before the friendly game.

Gharib, who was appointed Olympic team coach in January, called-up a total of eight players from Cairo giants Al Ahly and Zamalek.

Nasser Maher, Ahmed Hamdi, Ahmed Yasser Rayan, Karim Nedved, Mohamed Saber, and Akram Tawfik were called-up from Al Ahly, while Aboul-Fotouh and Omar Salah were included from Zamalek.

Ahmed Mostafa, who plies his trade at Belgium’s K.A.A Gent, was the only foreign-based player called-up by Shawy Gharib.

Photo: K.A.A Gent

Taher Mohamed Taher, Wagih Abdel-Hakim, Mahmoud Marie, and Mostafa Mohamed were also some notable names in the squad.

The Egyptian Olympic team is preparing to host the U-23 African Nations Cup in 2019. The top 3 places in the competition will secure a spot in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic games.

Egypt’s football team last participated in the 2012 Olympics in London, where they lost to Japan at the quarter-finals.

Squad List: 

Ahmed Yasser Rayyan, Ahmed Hamdi, Akram Tawfik, Karim Walid ‘Nedved’, Mohamed Saber, Nasser Maher (Al Ahly SC), Ahmed Aboul-Fotouh, Omar Salah (Zamalek SC), Taher Mohamed Taher, Yousef Ismail, Abdel Wahab Ismail (Arab Contractors SC), Sherif Reda, Ibrahim Abdelkawy (Smouha), Mohab Yasser (Nogoom FC), Ahmed Mostafa (K.A.A Gent), Wagih Abdel-Hakim (Ismaily), Osama Galal (Misr El-Makkasa), Marwan El-Nagar (Ittihad of Alexandria), Nasr Mansi (Pyramids FC), Karim Iraqi (Al Masry), Mahmoud Marie, Ahmed Said, Ahmed Ramadan (Wadi Degla), Omar Wael (El-Gouna), Shehab El-Deen Khalid (El Dakhleya), Mostafa Mohamed (Tala’ea El Gaish SC)