Gharib: Sobhy is my first-choice goalkeeper

CAIRO-3 June 2021: Egypt U-23 national team manager Shawki Gharib revealed that Mohamed Sobhy, goalkeeper of Al Ittihad of Alexandria, will be the team's starting goalkeeper at the Olympic Games in Tokyo. 

 

"Sobhy is my first choice goalkeeper. He participated in five games in the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations and won the best goalkeeper award. He is the starting goalkeeper of Al Ittihad and he is having a great season." Gharib said on Wednesday. 

 

However, Gharib's comments do not exclude the possibility of including Al Ahly's captain, Mohamed El Shenawy, in the team's squad for the Olympics as one of the three over-aged players. 

 

"El Shenawy is the best goalkeeper in Egypt and he is the first choice for the national team. For sure everything will change if he joins the team in the Olympics." Gharib added. 

 

The U-23 national team coach said that he did not make his choice on the other two over-aged players that will join the team alongside Liverpool's winger Mohamed Salah. 

 

Egypt U-23 national team has been drawn in Group C of the Tokyo Olympic Games alongside Spain, Argentina and Australia.