We did not agree with Aguirre’s squad, EFA Vice President said

CAIRO – 8 July 2019: Egyptian Football Association Vice President, Ahmed Shobir, has his say on the national team’s early exit from 2019 Africa Cup of Nations held in Egypt.

Shobir revealed that the board members did not agree with the squad chosen by the national team manager, Javier Aguirre.

“We had a meeting with Aguirre to discuss the chosen squad for the competition and we had many comments on the list.” Shobir said.

Aguirre, appointed by EFA following the 2018 World Cup early exit, announced the team’s final squad for the competition on June 11 and he ruled out many players like Ramadan Sobhy and Amr El Solia from Al-Ahly and Zamalek’s Mahmoud Kahraba and Abdallah Gomaa.

Shobir added “We told him that he should call players like Gomaa and Ramadan and he should also add players like Kahraba who can make difference during the game. He told us that he did not want players that could make problems if they did not start the games.”

Egyptian Football Association President Hany Abo Rida sacked the Egyptian national team coaching staff on the early hours of Sunday.

Abo Rida, as well as many board members, resigned from their position.

These decisions came after the national team's shocking loss to South Africa on Saturday night at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations round of 16.