Egypt's Arab Cup Dream: Elneny Returns to Lead a Hungry Pharaohs Squad

Elneny Leads Egypt's Arab Cup Quest

Mohamed Elneny, the midfielder for Al Jazira in the UAE, said Egypt's ambitions are high for the Arab Cup hosted by Qatar from December 1 to 18, with 16 teams taking part.

Egypt will field a second‑string squad under coach Hamdi Toulon as the senior team tunes up for the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco from December 21 to January 18.

Toulon called up veteran Mohamed Elneny to lead the Pharaohs for the Arab Cup, drawing on his long spells with Arsenal, Basel, Besiktas and El Mokawloon.

Elneny spoke during a media session at the national team's camp in 6 October City that everyone will give their best to please the Egyptian people and deliver good results in the tournament.

The Al Jazira man added, 'Everyone is eager to perform at their best, and I’m proud to join this talented group and earn the trust of the coaching staff led by Hamdi Toulon.'

He continued, 'Our dream is to win the Arab Cup, and I will never hesitate to answer Egypt's call. I have played at the Olympics in 2012, the 2024 edition, and at youth World Cups, the Africa Cup of Nations and the World Cup.'

Elneny said, 'Wearing the Egypt shirt is an honor for any player, and the squad is united in the aim to win the Arab Cup and please the fans.'

He added, 'Egypt remains a strong contender and a heavy favorite to lift the trophy. Respect to opponents, but we will not overestimate anyone; we will play to win.'

Egypt are in Group C with Jordan, the UAE and Kuwait, and the Pharaohs open against Kuwait on December 2, then meet the UAE on December 6 and Jordan on December 9.

Egypt finished fourth in the 2021 edition, also held in Qatar, and Elneny did not participate then due to his spells with Arsenal.

Messages from Ahmed Hassan

Ahmed Hassan, Egypt's deputy manager, said the players are ready to compete despite difficult circumstances.

He added, 'When Egypt competes in any tournament, they are among the contenders, and we have seen many Arab stars tipping us to win.'

He continued, 'Despite the tough conditions in selecting the squad, and the absence of Pyramids players who will be missed after not postponing two league matches, we will play to win.'

Hassan admitted that missing Pyramids players hurts, since the initial group included several from the blue club in friendlies such as Ahmed Sami, Mahmoud Marai, Ahmed Atef 'Kitten', Karim Hafiz and Marwan Hamdi.

He added, 'I trust the fighting spirit of the players. There is great optimism that this generation can achieve a landmark in the Arab Cup and deliver the best possible performance.'

He also said, 'Having Hamdi Toulon as a big name in coaching, along with goalkeeper coach Esam Al Hadry, is fantastic and their experience will transfer to the players.'

He concluded, 'I told the players this tournament is an opportunity for personal achievement and to leave a mark in their careers while delighting the Egyptian people with a significant title.'

He added, 'I reminded the squad of the joy and pride we felt after winning the Africa Cup of Nations, and I spoke with the senior players and promising youngsters about staying focused for the best possible showing.'

Ahmed Hassan noted the fierce competition: 'There is strong rivalry among the teams; some field their first teams and strongest players, led by Saudi Arabia.'

He continued, 'Our aim is to beat Kuwait first, then beat the UAE for a good start, and then progress through the group to the quarterfinals.'

In closing, he said, 'Ultimately the tournament has 16 Arab nations; the competition will be competitive yet friendly, and we trust our fans in Qatar to back us as we seek the best possible results.'

Punchline 1: If football were a sniper, Elneny would always hit the target—the back of the net.

Punchline 2: And if the crowd ever doubts, just remember: the only offside in a joke is the one the referee forgets to call.