Egypt arrived Kampala to face Uganda ahead of crucial World Cup qualifier

CAIRO – 30 August 2017: The Egyptian national team has arrived to Kampala, Uganda, on Tuesday evening, ahead of the much-anticipated 2018 African World Cup qualifier.

The Pharaohs will face Uganda on Thursday afternoon at the Mandela National Stadium, five days before the second-leg in Alexandria.

“I am confident of the players’ ability to overcome Uganda, as well as easily reaching the World Cup finals,” Egypt’s national team football manager, Hector Cuper, said on Monday.

Cuper had recently announced the 25-man squad as follows:

Goalkeepers:

Essam El-Hadary (Taawoun, KSA), Sherif Ekrami (Ahly), Ahmed El-Shennawy (Zamalek).

Defenders:

Ahmed Elmohamady (Aston Villa, England), Mohamed Abdel-Shafi (Ahly Jeddah, KSA), Ahmed Hegazi (West Bromwich, England), Omar Gaber (Basel, Switzerland), Karim Hafiz (Lens, France), Saad Samir (Ahly), Rami Rabia (Ahly), Ahmed Fathi (Ahly), Mohamed Fathi (Ismaily).

Midfielders:

Mohamed Elneny (Arsenal, England), Mahmoud “Trezeguet” Hassan (Kasimpasa, Turkey), Sam Morsi (Wigan, England), Ramadan Sobhi (Stoke City, England), Tarek Hamed (Zamalek), Hossam Ashour (Ahly), Abdallah El-Said (Ahly), Saleh Gomaa (Ahly).

Forwards:

Mohamed Salah (Liverpool, England), Ahmed Koka (Sporting Braga, Portugal), Amr Gamal (Bivest Witts, South Africa), Mahmoud “Kahraba” Abdel-Moneim (Ittihad Jeddah, Saudi Arabia), Hossam Hassan (Smouha).