Egypt boss, Javier Aguirre named his final 23-man squad for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations two days ago, with two Smouha players being dropped from the provisional squad, while Ivory Coast boss Ibrahim Kamara also announced star studded 23-man squad for the number one African football competition which will be held in Egypt between the 21st of June and 19th of July.
The Pharaohs squad included eight foreign-based players, most notably Mohamed Salah, Mohamed Elneny, Ahmed Elmohamady, Ahmed Hegazi, and Mahmoud Trezeguet. The Elephants squad list included breakout star Nicolas Pepe, in addition to Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha. Veteran 30-year-old striker Wilfried Bony, who spent last season on loan at Qatari club Al Arabi, also made the squad while also Milan midfielder Franck Kessie was named within the 23 players. However, former Arsenal and Roma winger Gervinho was left out despite a decent season with Serie A outfit Parma.
The Mexican coach included 10 players that will making their debut in the tournament while Kamara included 5 players who are yet to feature in the competition. In this article we will be giving the details of the debutant of both Egypt and Ivory Coast.
Egypt AFCON 2019 debutants
Mohamed El-Shennawy: He plays for Al Ahly in the Egyptian Premier League as a goalkeeper. He represented Egypt at under-18 level and later played for the Egypt national under-20 football team in the 2007 African Youth Championship.
From 2013, he received several call-ups to the senior Egypt side before making his international debut in a 2–1 friendly defeat against Portugal.
Mahmoud Alaa: He plays for Egyptian Premier League side Zamalek and the Egyptian national team as a defender. Despite joining the Egytian national team in 2012 he hasn’t have the chance to represent id country at AFCON.
Ayman Ashraf: He has proved his worth in the Ahly team he made his African Debut against Gunners of Zimbabwe in Cairo a match which ended 2–0 in the favour of Al Ahly, On 16 April Ashraf played 20 minutes of the Cairo Derby between Ahly and Zamalek which ended 3–3.
In May 2018 he was named in Egypt’s preliminary squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. He scored his first international goal in 25 May 2018 against Kuwait that ended with a draw 1-1.
Ahmed Ali: He plays for Egyptian Premier League side Al Mokawloon and the Egyptian national team as a striker. He was recalled to the Egyptian national team in May 2019, following an 8-year absence.
The news comes on his 33rd birthday as he tops the scoring charts in the Egyptian top-flight with 18 goals this season for Arab Contractors.
Mahmoud Genesh: He is known by his nickname Genesh, and is an Egyptian Goalkeeper who plays for Egyptian Premier League side Zamalek and the Egyptian national team.
On 11 February 2017, Gennesh helped Zamalek win the Egyptian Super Cup after defeating Al Ahly 3–1 in penalties. Gennesh saved two penalties.
Baher El Mohamady: Baher plays for Egyptian Premier League side Ismaily and the Egyptian national team as a defender. El Mohamady is a product of the Ismaily youth system. He earned his first international cap against Niger on 8 September 2018.
Ahmed Ayman Mansour: Ahmed plays for Egyptian Premier League side Pyramids and recently for the Egyptian national team as a defender. He made his debut for the Egypt national football team on 23 March 2019 in an Africa Cup qualifier against Niger, as a starter.
Mahmoud Hamdy Attia: He is also known as El-Winsh, and he plays as a centre back for EPL side Zamalek. In May 2018, he was named in Egypt’s preliminary squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Ali Ahmed Ali Mohamed Ghazal: He plays for Primeira Liga side Feirense and the Egyptian national team as a defensive midfielder or as a centre-back. In May 2013, Ghazal was called up for the Egyptian national team, making his international debut a year later.
He has failed to represent his country at the AFCON once even for the fact that he has been in the national team setup since 2013.
Nabil Emad: He is also known as Dunga, and plays as a central midfielder for Pyramids FC in the Egyptian Premier League. The 23-year-old made his debut for the Egypt national football team on 23 March 2019 in an Africa Cup qualifier against Niger, as a starter.
Ivory Coast AFCON 2019 debutants
Tape Ira Eliezer: He is one of the youngest players in the squad. Tape plays as a goalkeeper for Ivorien side San Pedro. He was born August 31st, 1997 and he is yet to feature for the Elephants with young goalie hoping to play his first game for his country in Egypt.
Souleyman Doumbia: The 22-years-old plays as a left midfielder for French Ligue 1 side Rennes. He was born in France to Ivorien parents in 1996 but decided to represent the Elephants instead of Les Bleus. Since he chose to represent his country of birth, he is yet to earn any international cap for his Cote d’Ivoire.
Jean-Philippe Gbamin: He was born September 25th 1995 and he plays as a centre back for Mainz 05. Gbamin is a former youth international for France. He has represented France at under-18, under-19, under-20 and under-21 level, making his under-21 debut in a 1–1 draw against Italy U20 on 13 November 2014.
In April 2017 it was announced that Gbamin had committed himself to playing for the Ivory Coast internationally. He made his senior debut for Ivory Coast in a 5–0 friendly loss to the Netherlands on 4 June 2017.
Ibrahim Sangaré: He was born December 2nd, 1997 and plays as a midfielder for French Ligue 1 side Toulouse. Despite making his international debut for his country as a teenager he has failed to feature at the AFCON.
Maxwel Cornet: He was born September 27th 1996 and he plays as a forward for Ligue 1 club Olympique Lyonnais. Cornet was born in the Ivory Coast, and emigrated to France at a young age. He was a youth international for France at every level but declared for the Ivory Coast national team on 5 April 2017.
He made his senior debut for Ivory Coast in a 5–0 friendly loss to the Netherlands on 4 June 2017.
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