Known as the ‘Pharaohs’, Egypt are the most successful team in the history of the Africa Cup of Nations, claiming seven titles in the continental tournament.
The North Africans are returning to the AFCON finals for the first time since their last triumph in 2010, having failed to qualify for the last three editions.
Egypt topped Group G in the preliminaries ahead of Nigeria, Tanzania and Chad, securing their place at Gabon 2017.
Despite being absent for seven years, Hector Cuper’s Egypt will start the tournament as one of the favourites for the title, due to their excellent pedigree, the presence of stars likes Mohamed Salah and their strong form in the World Cup qualifiers toward the end of 2016.
Ahmed El Mohamady (l) and Trezeguet (r) during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals training session for Egypt at the Military Stadium, Cairo, Egypt on 25 June 2019 ©Gavin Barker/BackpagePix
Ahmed El Mohamady (c) leads team in warm up during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals training session for Egypt at the Military Stadium, Cairo, Egypt on 25 June 2019 ©Gavin Barker/BackpagePix
Trezeguet during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals training session for Egypt at the Military Stadium, Cairo, Egypt on 25 June 2019 ©Gavin Barker/BackpagePix
Ahmed El Mohamady of Egypt during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals training session for Egypt at the Military Stadium, Cairo, Egypt on 25 June 2019 ©Gavin Barker/BackpagePix
Mohamed Salah during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals training session for Egypt at the Military Stadium, Cairo, Egypt on 25 June 2019 ©Gavin Barker/BackpagePix
Ahmed El Mohamady of Egypt during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals Eqypt press conference at Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt on 25 June 2019 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
Javier Aguirre, coach of Egypt during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals Eqypt press conference at Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt on 25 June 2019 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
Javier Aguirre, coach of Egypt during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals Eqypt press conference at Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt on 25 June 2019 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
Ahmed El Mohamady of Egypt during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals Eqypt press conference at Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt on 25 June 2019 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
Ahmed El Mohamady of Egypt and Javier Aguirre, coach of Egypt during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals Eqypt press conference at Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt on 25 June 2019 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
Mahmoud Alaa of Egypt receives the Total Man of the Match award after the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals opening game between Egypt and Zimbabwe at Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt on 21 June 2019 © Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix
Mahmoud Alaa of Egypt receives the Total Man of the Match award after the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals opening game between Egypt and Zimbabwe at Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt on 21 June 2019 © Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix
Khama Billiat of Zimbabwe tackled by Ahmed Hegazi of Egypt during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals football match between Egypt and Zimbabwe at the Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt on 21 June 2019 ©BackpagePix
Trezeguet of Egypt (l) celebrates goal during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals football match between Egypt and Zimbabwe at the Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt on 21 June 2019 ©BackpagePix
Trezeguet of Egypt (l) celebrates goal during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals football match between Egypt and Zimbabwe at the Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt on 21 June 2019 ©BackpagePix
Trezeguet of Egypt celebrates goal during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals football match between Egypt and Zimbabwe at the Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt on 21 June 2019 ©BackpagePix
Tendayi Darikwa of Zimbabwe challenged by Walid Soliman of Egypt during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals match between Egypt and Zimbabwe at Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt on 21 June 2019 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
Abdallah El Said of Egypt tackled by Marshall Munetsi of Zimbabwe during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals match between Egypt and Zimbabwe at Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt on 21 June 2019 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
Ahmed Hegazi of Egypt bleeding blood during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals match between Egypt and Zimbabwe at Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt on 21 June 2019 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
Knowledge Musona of Zimbabwe challenged by Trezeguet of Egypt during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals match between Egypt and Zimbabwe at Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt on 21 June 2019 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
Knowledge Musona of Zimbabwe during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals match between Egypt and Zimbabwe at Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt on 21 June 2019 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
Tendayi Darikwa of Zimbabwe challenged by Trezeguet of Egypt during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals match between Egypt and Zimbabwe at Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt on 21 June 2019 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
Marwan Mohsin of Egypt challenged by Alec Mudimu of Zimbabwe during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals match between Egypt and Zimbabwe at Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt on 21 June 2019 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
Marshal Munetsi of Zimbabwe challenged by Abdallah El Said of Egypt during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals match between Egypt and Zimbabwe at Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt on 21 June 2019 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
Nyasha Mushekwi of Zimbabwe challenged by Ahmed El Mohamady of Egypt during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals match between Egypt and Zimbabwe at Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt on 21 June 2019 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
Mohamed El Shenawy of Egypt during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals opening game between Egypt and Zimbabwe at Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt on 21 June 2019 © Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix
Tarek Hamed of Egypt challenged by Khama Billiat of Zimbabwe during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals match between Egypt and Zimbabwe at Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt on 21 June 2019 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
Nyasha Mushekwi of Zimbabwe pulls away from Tarek Hamed of Egypt during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals opening game between Egypt and Zimbabwe at Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt on 21 June 2019 © Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix
Mohamed Salah of Egypt warms up before the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals opening game between Egypt and Zimbabwe at Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt on 21 June 2019 © Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix
Tarek Hamed of Egypt is challenged by Ovidy Karuru of Zimbabwe during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals opening game between Egypt and Zimbabwe at Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt on 21 June 2019 © Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix
Mohamed Salah of Egypt tackled by Teenage Hadebe of Zimbabwe during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals football match between Egypt and Zimbabwe at the Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt on 21 June 2019 ©BackpagePix
Ahmed Hegazi of Egypt wins header against Ovidy Karuru of Zimbabwe during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals football match between Egypt and Zimbabwe at the Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt on 21 June 2019 ©BackpagePix
Khama Billiat of Zimbabwe shields ball from Tarek Hamed of Egypt during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals football match between Egypt and Zimbabwe at the Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt on 21 June 2019 ©BackpagePix
Opening Ceremony during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals match between Egypt and Zimbabwe at Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt on 21 June 2019 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
Opening Ceremony during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals match between Egypt and Zimbabwe at Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt on 21 June 2019 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
Opening Ceremony during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals match between Egypt and Zimbabwe at Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt on 21 June 2019 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
Opening Ceremony during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals match between Egypt and Zimbabwe at Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt on 21 June 2019 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
Opening Ceremony during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals match between Egypt and Zimbabwe at Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt on 21 June 2019 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
Opening Ceremony during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals match between Egypt and Zimbabwe at Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt on 21 June 2019 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
Opening Ceremony during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals match between Egypt and Zimbabwe at Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt on 21 June 2019 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
Mohamed Salah of Egypt warms up during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals football match between Egypt and Zimbabwe at the Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt on 21 June 2019 ©BackpagePix
Ovidy Karuru of Zimbabwe challenged by Tarek Hamed of Egypt during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals match between Egypt and Zimbabwe at Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt on 21 June 2019 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
General View of opening ceremony during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals football match between Egypt and Zimbabwe at the Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt on 21 June 2019 ©BackpagePix
General View of opening ceremony during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals football match between Egypt and Zimbabwe at the Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt on 21 June 2019 ©BackpagePix
General View of opening ceremony during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals football match between Egypt and Zimbabwe at the Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt on 21 June 2019 ©BackpagePix
General View of opening ceremony during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals football match between Egypt and Zimbabwe at the Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt on 21 June 2019 ©BackpagePix
General View of opening ceremony during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals football match between Egypt and Zimbabwe at the Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt on 21 June 2019 ©BackpagePix
General View of opening ceremony during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals football match between Egypt and Zimbabwe at the Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt on 21 June 2019 ©BackpagePix
Nyasha Mushekwi of Zimbabwe challenged by Mohamed El Shenawy of Egypt during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals match between Egypt and Zimbabwe at Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt on 21 June 2019 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
General view outside the stadium as fans being to arrive for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals opening game between Egypt and Zimbabwe
General view outside the stadium as fans being to arrive for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals opening game between Egypt and Zimbabwe
Egypt fans arrives during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals match between Egypt and Zimbabwe at Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt on 21 June 2019 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
Egypt fans arrives during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals match between Egypt and Zimbabwe at Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt on 21 June 2019 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
General view of Cairo International Stadium hours before the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals opening game between Egypt and Zimbabwe
Egypt fans during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals match between Egypt and Zimbabwe at Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt on 21 June 2019 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
Egypt fans during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals match between Egypt and Zimbabwe at Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt on 21 June 2019 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
General view outside the stadium as fans being to arrive for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals opening game between Egypt and Zimbabwe
General view outside the stadium as fans being to arrive for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals opening game between Egypt and Zimbabwe
Egypt fans during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals match between Egypt and Zimbabwe at Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt on 21 June 2019 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
Marwan Mohsen of Egypt during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals Egypt at Cairo Military Academy, Cairo, Egypt on 19 June 2019 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
Ahmed Hegazi of Egypt during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals Egypt at Cairo Military Academy, Cairo, Egypt on 19 June 2019 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
Javier Aguirre, coach of Egypt during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals Egypt at Cairo Military Academy, Cairo, Egypt on 19 June 2019 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
Mohamed Salah of Egypt during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals Egypt at Cairo Military Academy, Cairo, Egypt on 19 June 2019 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
Mohamed Salah of Egypt during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals Egypt at Cairo Military Academy, Cairo, Egypt on 19 June 2019 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
General view of 2019 Africa Cup of Nations build up.
General View of Cairo International Stadium ahead of the opening match of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations football match between Egypt and Zimbabwe, on 17 June 2019 ©BackpagePix
General View of Cairo International Stadium ahead of the opening match of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations football match between Egypt and Zimbabwe, on 17 June 2019 ©BackpagePix
General View of Cairo International Stadium ahead of the opening match of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations football match between Egypt and Zimbabwe, on 17 June 2019 ©BackpagePix
General view of 2019 Africa Cup of Nations build up.
General view of 2019 Africa Cup of Nations build up.
General View of Cairo International Stadium ahead of the opening match of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations football match between Egypt and Zimbabwe, on 17 June 2019 ©BackpagePix
General view of 2019 Africa Cup of Nations build up.
epa07170633 Tunisia's Naim Sliti (L) in action against Egyptian players Mohamed Elneny (R) during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2019 qualifying soccer match between Egypt and Tunisia in Alexandria, Egypt, 16 November 2018. EPA/KHALED ELFIQI
epa07170738 Tunisia's Naim Sliti (L) in action against Egypt's Tarek Hamed (R) during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2019 qualifying soccer match between Egypt and Tunisia in Alexandria, Egypt, 16 November 2018. EPA/KHALED ELFIQI
gypt's Mohamed Salah (R) in action against Tunisia's Ellyes Skhiri (L) during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2019 qualifying soccer match between Egypt and Tunisia in Alexandria, Egypt, 16 November 2018. EPA/KHALED ELFIQI
epa07171116 Egypt's Amr Warda (R) in action against Tunisia's Ellyes Skhiri (L) during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2019 qualifying soccer match between Egypt and Tunisia in Alexandria, Egypt, 16 November 2018. EPA/KHALED ELFIQI
epa07170626 Tunisia's Oussama Haddadi (C) in action against Egyptian players Mohamed Elneny (L) and Ahmed Elmohamady (R) during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2019 qualifying soccer match between Egypt and Tunisia in Alexandria, Egypt, 16 November 2018. EPA/KHALED ELFIQI
epa07170632 Tunisia's Oussama Haddadi (L) in action against Egyptian players Mohamed Elneny (R) during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2019 qualifying soccer match between Egypt and Tunisia in Alexandria, Egypt, 16 November 2018. EPA/KHALED ELFIQI
Egypt Mahmoud Hassan challenges Eswatini Siboniso Ngwenya on October 16, 2018 during the TOTAL 2019 AFCON Qualifier at Mavuso Sports Centre, Manzini, Eswatini. Egypt won 2-0.
Egypt Mohamed Elneny challenges the ball from Eswatini Machawe Dlamini on October 16, 2018 during the TOTAL 2019 AFCON Qualifier at Mavuso Sports Centre, Manzini, Eswatini. Egypt won 2-0
Egypt Ahmed Eissa attepmts to win teh ball from Eswatini Tony Tsabedze on October 16, 2018 during the TOTAL 2019 AFCON Qualifier at Mavuso Sports Centre, Manzini, Eswatini. Egypt won 2-0
Egypt Ayman Elsayed runs away with the ball from Eswatini during the TOTAL 2019 AFCON Qualifier at Mavuso Sports Centre, Manzini, Eswatini on October 16, 2018. Egypt won 2-0
Eswatini Siboniso Mamba holds back Egypt Mahmoud Hassan during the TOTAL 2019 AFCON Qualifier at Mavuso Sports Centre, Manzini, Eswatini on October 16, 2018. Egypt won 2-0
epa06838936 Salem Al-Dawsari (front L) of Saudi Arabia in action against Egyptian players Tarek Hamed (R) and Abdallah Said (back) during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group A preliminary round soccer match between Saudi Arabia and Egypt in Volgograd, Russia, 25 June 2018.
epa06838961 Mohamed Salah (L) of Egypt and Motaz Hawsawi of Saudi Arabia in action during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group A preliminary round soccer match between Saudi Arabia and Egypt in Volgograd, Russia, 25 June 2018.
epa06838937 Osama Hawsawi of Saudi Arabia in action during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group A preliminary round soccer match between Saudi Arabia and Egypt in Volgograd, Russia, 25 June 2018.
epa06838892 Abdallah Said (R) of Egypt and Yasir Al-Shahrani of Saudi Arabia in action during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group A preliminary round soccer match between Saudi Arabia and Egypt in Volgograd, Russia, 25 June 2018.
epa06838922 (L-R) Marwan Mohsen and Mohamed Salah of Egypt in action with Abdullah Otayf of Saudi Arabia during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group A preliminary round soccer match between Saudi Arabia and Egypt in Volgograd, Russia, 25 June 2018.
epa06838928 Mohamed Abdelshafy (R) of Egypt in action during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group A preliminary round soccer match between Saudi Arabia and Egypt in Volgograd, Russia, 25 June 2018.
epa06838892 Abdallah Said (R) of Egypt and Yasir Al-Shahrani of Saudi Arabia in action during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group A preliminary round soccer match between Saudi Arabia and Egypt in Volgograd, Russia, 25 June 2018.
epa06838891 Salem Al-Dawsari (L) of Saudi Arabia in action against Tarek Hamed (R) of Egypt during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group A preliminary round soccer match between Saudi Arabia and Egypt in Volgograd, Russia, 25 June 2018.
epa06838834 Ahmed Fathi (L) of Egypt and Salem Al-Dawsari of Saudi Arabia in action during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group A preliminary round soccer match between Saudi Arabia and Egypt in Volgograd, Russia, 25 June 2018.
Amr Warda (L) of Egypt and Yury Gazinsky of Russia in action during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group A preliminary round soccer match between Russia and Egypt in St.Petersburg, Russia, 19 June 2018.
epa06822684 Roman Zobnin of Russia and Mohamed Salah (R) of Egypt in action during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group A preliminary round soccer match between Russia and Egypt in St.Petersburg, Russia, 19 June 2018.
epa06822843 Mohamed Salah (R) of Egypt and Yuri Zhirkov of Russia in action during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group A preliminary round soccer match between Russia and Egypt in St.Petersburg, Russia, 19 June 2018.
Aleksandr Samedov (L) of Russia and Tarek Hamed of Egypt in action during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group A preliminary round soccer match between Russia and Egypt in St.Petersburg, Russia, 19 June 2018.
epa06822504 Marwan Mohsen of Egypt (C) tries to score during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group A preliminary round soccer match between Russia and Egypt in St.Petersburg, Russia, 19 June 2018.
epa06822499 Artem Dzyuba of Russia (L) and Ahmed Hegazy of Egypt in action during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group A preliminary round soccer match between Russia and Egypt in St.Petersburg, Russia, 19 June 2018.
epa06822488 Artem Dzyuba (L) of Russia and Ahmed Hegazy of Egypt in action during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group A preliminary round soccer match between Russia and Egypt in St.Petersburg, Russia, 19 June 2018.
epa06822451 Mario Fernandes (L) of Russia and Mohamed Abdelshafy of Egypt in action during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group A preliminary round soccer match between Russia and Egypt in St.Petersburg, Russia, 19 June 2018.
Egypt
COMMENTS
Sign in to comment