AFCON 2021: Egypt boss gives squad update ahead of Cameroon clash

Egypt will have to face the hosts without the services of their number one goalkeeper on Thursday.

Egypt defeated Morocco 2-1 in a tense Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final battle on Sunday. Egypt’s third goalkeeper came in for the extra time after second-choice keeper Mohamed Abou Gabal suffered an injury.

Mohamed El Shenawy, who started the tournament as Egypt’s number one, limped off in their last-16 battle against Ivory Coast on January 26. However, the Pharaohs boss Carlos Queiroz says he will not return to his side’s squad for the semi-final tie.

“Mohamed El-Shennawy will not be ready,” Queiroz said (via KingFut).

“No one likes to see great players injured, in any team, this is not good for football in general. But we trust that everyone else will be ready.”

Mohamed El-Shennawy had undergone an MRI Scan which revealed a strain in his hamstring that will require a full treatment program. pic.twitter.com/N2YYcI6wOt
— KingFut.com (@King_Fut) January 27, 2022

He added: “You can win two games but you can’t be a champion without a good squad.

“I will decide who starts, but all the players are important to me. The absence of players like Akram, El-Shennawy and Hegazi, is not good for football.”

Egypt finished the group stage as Group D runner-ups behind Nigeria. Queiroz’s side then defeated Ivory Coast and Morocco to reach the semi-finals.

The Portuguese manager says his side are highly motivated to take the last step toward reaching the AFCON final.

“Words like fear have been erased from our dictionary,” Queiroz added.

“In our football dictionary, there is the word respect. We have great respect for Cameroon and their players, because they are performing well and scoring goals. But we are ready. After five matches I think everything is possible,

“Our strategy tomorrow is easy; run, run and run, then play, play and play. This is the way we can be outplay Cameroon.”

If they manage to beat the hosts, Egypt will face the winner of the tie between Burkina Faso and Senegal in the final. After the tournament, Egypt will prepare to face Senegal in the first leg of their World Cup qualifier on March 23.