Post by : Meena Ariff

Egypt's head coach Hossam Hassan has officially included Mohamed Salah in the 28-player squad for the Africa Cup of Nations, highlighting the forward's vital role in the national lineup. The tournament is set to start on December 21, with Salah expected to sit out at least two Premier League matches.

Salah has been the focus of significant media scrutiny after his comments indicating he feels unfairly targeted over Liverpool's recent difficulties, suggesting a rift with manager Arne Slot. Speculation heightened as his presence on the pitch diminished, remaining unused against Leeds United and West Ham United, and being excluded from the Champions League roster for the fixture against Inter Milan.

Despite the surrounding controversies, Salah will feature for Liverpool in their upcoming match against Brighton & Hove Albion, as FIFA has stated that players need to report to their national teams only a week before the tournament starts. Nevertheless, Liverpool will likely miss his services in encounters against Tottenham Hotspur and Wolverhampton Wanderers during Egypt's group stage.

Hassan's lineup also boasts Manchester City's Omar Marmoush and Al-Ahly's Mahmoud Trezeguet, enhancing Egypt's attacking capabilities. The seven-time African champions will kick off their campaign against Zimbabwe on December 22, take on South Africa on December 26, and finish the group stage facing Angola on December 29.

The selected squad features four goalkeepers: Mohamed El-Shenawy and Mostafa Shobeir from Al-Ahly, Ahmed El-Shenawy of Pyramids, and Mohamed Sobhi from Zamalek. Defensively, the team is comprised of Mohamed Hany, Ahmed Eid, Rami Rabia, Khaled Sobhi, Yasser Ibrahim, Mohamed Ismail, Hossam Abdelmaguid, Mohamed Hamdy, and Ahmed Fatouh.

In the midfield and forward positions, Salah is joined by Marwan Ateya, Hamdy Fathy, Mohanad Lasheen, Mahmoud Saber, Mohamed Shehata, Emam Ashour, Ahmed Zizo, Trezeguet, Ibrahim Adel, Mostafa Fathi, and Omar Marmoush.

#Global News #Sports News #World News