Hegazi is doubtful for Arab Cup

CAIRO-18 November 2021: The Egyptian national team could go the FIFA Arab Cup without their main defender, Ahmed Hegazi, after the Saudi Arabian Football Federation decided to participate in the competition with the youth team.

Hegazi, Al Ittihad of Jeddah's defender, is the only player in Egypt’s provisional squad in the competition who is not playing in the Egyptian League.

The domestic competitions in Saudi Arabia will be resumed during the competition and the Saudi teams are expected to announce that their foreign players will not join their national teams for the competition.

“We did not give the final decision over the participation of our players in the Arab Cup but our intention is to keep them after the Saudi Football Federation’s decision to play the postponed matches of the league during the Arab Cup.”  An official from Al Ittihad told Filgoal.

Qatari capital, Doha, hosts the tournament between 30 November and 18 December as a prelude for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Egypt plays in Group D of the competition alongside Algeria, Lebanon and Sudan.