Why Queiroz decided to take only 25-player squad to AFCON?

CAIRO-30 December 2021: Carlos Queiroz, Egypt national team head coach, announced on Wednesday his squad for the upcoming 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.

Queiroz named only 25 players in his squad, four goalkeepers and twenty one outfield players, despite having the ability to add three more players to his squad that will participate in the competition.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) gave the participating nations the chance to register 28 players for the competition, which is the first to be held since the COVID-19 outbreak.

According to Filgoal, Queiroz believes that it is easier for him to train 21 outfield players and including another three players will not be useful for the team's preparations. 

Egypt's squad for the competition: 

Goalkeepers: 

Mohamed El Shenawy, Mohamed Abo Gabal, Mohamed Sobhy, Mahmoud Gad,

Defenders: 

Mahmoud Alaa, Mahmoud Hamdy El Wensh, Ahmed Fattouh, Akram Tawfik, Ayman Ashraf, Ahmed Hegazi, Mohamed Abdelmonem, Omar Kamal

Midfielders: 

Hamdy Fathy, Mohamed Elneny, Mohannad Lashin, Amr El Soulia, Abdullah El Said, Mahmoud Hassan Trezeguet, Ahmed Sayed Zizo, Emam Ashour, 

Strikers:

Mostafa Mohamed, Omar Marmoush, Ramadan Sobhy, Mohamed Sherif, Mohamed Salah. 

Egypt plays in Group D alongside Nigeria, Sudan and Guinea-Bissau.