Egypt's Arab Cup Spark: Toulan Taps Youthful Firepower for Qatar Run
27 November 2025
Arab Cup Preview: Egypt's Youth-Driven Squad
The Egypt national team is preparing for the Arab Cup, which kicks off next Monday in Qatar and runs through December 18. Egypt finds itself in Group C alongside Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, with the top two teams advancing to the knockout rounds. The Pharaohs are fielding a second-string lineup under coach Halim Toulan as the first team focuses on the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco from December 21 to January 18.
In 2021, Egypt featured a number of domestic-league talents under Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz who made early breakthroughs on the national stage. Toulan is following a similar path by giving opportunities to notable Egypt-based players to taste international competition.
Youth Meets Experience: Key Call-Ups
Yahya Zakaria, a left-back from Ghazl El Mahalla, earned a spot after strong domestic showings and even scored against Tunisia. The 23-year-old has drawn attention from big clubs, including Al Ahly, for his defensive solidity and attacking instincts.
Yasin Marai, a defender from Al Ahly who joined from Pharco, impressed with 13 appearances and two goals, signalling potential as a future mainstay in defense.
Mustafa Saad, a 24-year-old winger/forward with ZED, has previously featured for Ceramica Cleopatra, Al Ahly and Sido (Serri). He brings versatility on the flanks and a nose for goal.
Hadi Riyad, a 27-year-old defender at Petrojet, is noted for his reliability at the back and his experience across Egyptian clubs like Wadi Degla, adding steadiness to the lineup.
Ahmed Atef, 27, a forward/winger from ZED, has prior stints with Wadi Degla and Modern Sporting and is valued for pace and goal threat.
Ahmed Hani, a right-back from Ceramica Cleopatra, has also spent time with Ismaily and Tala’ea El Gaish, offering attacking width and defensive discipline on the flank.
Gnam Mohammad, a defensive midfielder with Modern Sporting, is recognized for his ball-winning presence and distribution from deep midfield.
Mohamed Masad, known in the circuit as a dynamic winger from Modern Sporting, has appeared 12 times in the league this season and brought creativity and pace to the attack.
Amid the youth, veterans like Amr El-Solia, Mohamed Al-Nenny, Mahmoud Hamdy Al-Wenesh, Ali Lotfy, Mohamed Awad, and Kareem Fouad provide balance, leadership, and experience to the squad.
Toulan’s approach seeks to blend emerging talents with seasoned players to strengthen a squad that can compete in the Arab Cup while preparing for theAfrica Cup of Nations.
Egypt’s Arab Cup tradition remains strong. The Pharaohs first competed in 1963 in Saudi Arabia, finishing third, and claimed their only title in 1992 in Syria. Across editions, Egypt has leaned on a mix of domestic stars and promising youngsters, maintaining competitiveness on the continental stage and continuing to unearth new talents.
As the tournament unfolds, the focus remains on development and results, with Toulan aiming to translate domestic potential into international impact.
Punchlines to lighten the mood:
Sniper joke 1: If strategy were bullets, Halim Toulan just loaded a full clip and kept the receipts of every strike.
Sniper joke 2: When life gives you a group stage, Egypt builds a highlight reel—boom, there it is, a future star being born.
