Egypt boss Queiroz names nine foreign-based players

Carlos Queiroz, the new head coach of the Egyptian national soccer team

Monday Sep 20, 2021. 15:00

New Egypt national team manager Carlos Queiroz has named nine foreign-based players for the Pharaohs’ upcoming 2022 World Cup Qualifiers against Libya next month.

After picking up four points from their opening two group stage matches against Angola and Gabon, Egypt will face leaders Libya (six points) in back-to-back matches in October’s international window.

According to the Egyptian Football Association (EFA), the nine players who were called up ahead of the upcoming clashes are Mohamed Salah of Liverpool, Ittihad of Jeddah’s defender Ahmed Hegazi, Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny, striker Ahmed ‘Kouka’ Hassan of Konyaspor, Sam Morsi of Ipswich Town FC, Omar Marmoush of Stuttgart, Galatasaray’s in-form striker Mostafa Mohamed, Ahmed Yasser Rayan of Altay and Karim Hafez of Yeni Malatyaspor.

“Queiroz announced the primary foreign-based players squad who will be called to join Egypt’s camp within preparations for the World Cup qualifiers,” read a statement by the EFA, according to Ahram Online.

Morsi, Marmoush and Hafez are returning to the national team set-up after a time out in the cold, while Rayan’s call-up is his first.

There remain question marks over the availability of players in terms of Covid-19 ‘red list’ travel restrictions – an issue which saw Salah, for example, miss out on Egypt’s 1-0 home win over Angola on September 1.

Queiroz, who was named as the new Egypt boss to replace Hossam El Badry, will be hoping to guide the North African heavyweights to a second successive World Cup qualification after their appearance at Russia 2018.

The final squad for the Libya matches is set to be revealed on Sunday 26 September, with the Pharaohs also set to have a warm-up friendly against Liberia on Thursday 30 September.