Former Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny and Zamalek winger Ahmed ‘Zizo’ Sayed have been selected by coach Rogerio Micale to lead the Egypt U-23 team in this summer’s Olympic Games in Paris 2024 as senior players.
All participating teams are allowed to name three senior players in their squad, but due to refusals from players’ clubs, Micale settled for just two players.
Liverpool star Mohamed Salah, Trabzonspor winger Mahmoud ‘Trezeguet’ Hassan, Frankfurt winger Omar Marmoush, and FC Nantes striker Mostafa Mohamed were among the candidates to join Egypt U-23, but their clubs declined to release them for pre-season preparations.
There were reports that Micale also desired to call up Ahly’s duo Mohamed Abdel-Moneam and Emam Ashour, as well as Pyramids FC winger Mostafa Fathi, but both teams rejected his request as they compete for the Egyptian League title.
In addition to Elneny and Zizo, the Brazilian coach has selected 20 players, including Zamalek trio Hossam Abdel-Meguid, Mohamed Shehata, and Ziad Kamal.
Pyramids FC star Ibrahim Adel is also part of the selected squad, alongside Ahly trio Hamza Alaa, Ahmed Nabil, and Karim El-Debiss.
Egypt’s camp will start on Friday, with Elneny and Zizo joining the camp two days later.
The Olympic Games are scheduled to take place from 26 July to 11 August, with the men’s football tournament starting on July 24.
Egypt have been drawn into Group C, alongside Spain, the Dominican Republic and Uzbekistan.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Hamza Alaa (Ahly), Ali El Gabry (Ceramica Cleopatra), Mohamed Seha (Arab Contractors)
Defenders: Ahmed Sayed (Zed FC), Karim El Debes (Ahly), Hossam Abdel-Meguid (Zamalek), Mohamed Hamdi (Enppi SC), Mohamed Tarek, Ahmed Eid (Masry), Mohamed El Maghrabi (Smouha SC), Omar Fayad (FK Novi Pazar)
Midfielders: Mohamed Elneny (Without club) Mahmoud Saber, Ibrahim Adel (Pyramids FC), Ahmed Atef, Mostafa Saad (Zed FC), Ahmed Nabil (Ahly)Ahmed ‘Zizo’ Sayed, Ziad Kamal, Mohamed Shehata (Zamalek).
Strikers: Osama Faisal (NBE Club), Bilal Mazhar (Panathinaikos)
-Ahram