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2019 Africa Cup of Nations: Group A preview

By Liam Bekker

An Egyptian walks along a pedestrian crossing beneath a bridge in the Nile of island of Zamalek in the heart of the capital Cairo on September 5, 2018, towards a graffiti mural depicting players of the national football team and its star and Liverpool FC striker Mohamed Salah (C). - Mohamed Salah, back in Egypt for African Cup of Nations qualifiers, has already scored a victory, forcing his national football federation to back down after a war of nerves. (Photo by Mohamed el-Shahed / AFP) (Photo credit should read MOHAMED EL-SHAHED/AFP/Getty Images)
An Egyptian walks along a pedestrian crossing beneath a bridge in the Nile of island of Zamalek in the heart of the capital Cairo on September 5, 2018, towards a graffiti mural depicting players of the national football team and its star and Liverpool FC striker Mohamed Salah (C). - Mohamed Salah, back in Egypt for African Cup of Nations qualifiers, has already scored a victory, forcing his national football federation to back down after a war of nerves. (Photo by Mohamed el-Shahed / AFP) (Photo credit should read MOHAMED EL-SHAHED/AFP/Getty Images) /
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Egypt’s forward Mohamed Salah (R) scores a goal during the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier football match Egypt vs Tunisia at the Borg El Arab Stadium, near Alexandria, on November 16, 2018. (Photo by KHALED DESOUKI / AFP) (Photo credit should read KHALED DESOUKI/AFP/Getty Images)
Egypt’s forward Mohamed Salah (R) scores a goal during the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier football match Egypt vs Tunisia at the Borg El Arab Stadium, near Alexandria, on November 16, 2018. (Photo by KHALED DESOUKI / AFP) (Photo credit should read KHALED DESOUKI/AFP/Getty Images) /

EGYPT

Host nation Egypt will be taking part in their 24th Africa Cup of Nations tournament. The North Africans are the tournament’s most successful nation with a record seven titles to their name, the most recent of which came in 2010. Last time out, they ended as runners-up to Cameroon and will be looking to go one step further and reclaim the title this time around.

Qualification

In January of this year, Egypt were named as hosts of the 2019 AFCON tournament after the original host nation Cameroon were stripped of their rights to hold the tournament. By that stage, Javier Aguirre’s side had already secured qualification and they ultimately won four and drew one of their six matches en route to a second-placed finish behind Tunisia.

The Pharaohs scored 16 goals in total in qualifying, at least four more than any other side, with their goals spread across ten different players. Mohamed Salah was the nation’s scorer-in-chief with four goals to his name, including a brace in a 6-0 win over Niger in September 2018.

The squad

Conversely to the DR Congo squad, Egypt’s squad is comprised of a large number of domestic stars, with no fewer than 15 players plying their trade in their homeland. Included among the locally-based players is 33-year old Ahmed Ali who is currently the Egyptian Premier League’s leading goalscorer this season.

Egypt’s star power will come in the form of two of the nation’s European-based players, with Kasimpasa’s Trézéguet and Liverpool’s Salah the two likeliest players to excel at the tournament. Aston Villa’s Ahmed El Mohamady will captain the side while Arsenal’s Mohamed El Neny is another household name included in the final 23-man squad.

The most notable absentee is Ramadan Sobhi. The 22-year old has struggled since joining Huddersfield at the start of the season – subsequently returning to Egypt on a short-term deal – and has not done enough to earn a spot in the tournament squad.

Key player: Mohamed Salah

It should come as no surprise that the best African player, twice over, is Egypt’s key man heading into the Africa Cup of Nations. Salah is one of the foremost players in the world and will carry the hopes of his nation on his shoulders.

The 27-year old is the only player in Egypt’s squad with 10+ international goals and will need to add to his tally if Egypt are to claim a record-extending eighth AFCON crown. He’s no stranger to pressure, having near-singlehandedly guided his nation to a first World Cup in 28 years in 2018 before helping Liverpool to the Champions League title earlier this month.

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