Mohamed Elneny, the veteran midfielder for Al Jazira, headlines Egypt's squad for the Arab Cup in Qatar, running from December 1 to 18. The Pharaohs are counting on his wealth of experience as they chase a title that has eluded them since 1992.
With a long, trophy-laden career, Elneny brings leadership and composure to the group, hoping to translate his club success into national glory for Egypt on a big stage.
His journey began in a footballing family—his father a former player at Al-Mahalla who later coached there—before he joined the youth ranks of Al Ahly. When that era ended, he moved to Al Mokawloon Al Arab, where he broke into the first team in 2010 and drew the attention of bigger clubs.
In January 2013, Basel signed him on loan with an option to buy, and he crossed paths with Mohamed Salah, who had also graduated from the same academy. He made around 144 appearances for Basel, scoring 10 goals and providing eight assists, and helped win the Swiss league title four times, boosting his profile in Europe.
Arsenal came calling in January 2016 for about €12.5 million, and Elneny became the first Egyptian to join the Gunners. He wore the captain’s armband at times and featured in 161 matches, scoring six goals and providing ten assists, lifting the FA Cup in 2017 and the Community Shield in 2018 and 2021.
After a loan spell at Besiktas under Unai Emery, his career found a renewed wind under Mikel Arteta, who trusted him as a senior presence in the dressing room. In 2024 he moved to Al Jazira in the UAE, contributing 40 appearances, one goal, and three assists and winning the UAE League Cup along the way.
On the international stage, Elneny has worn the Egypt shirt since 2011, helping youth sides reach the U-20 World Cup in Colombia in 2011 and the London Olympics in 2012. He has earned well over 100 senior caps, scoring eight goals and providing eight assists, while playing under coaches such as Bob Bradley, Hector Cuper, Shawky Ghareeb, Javier Aguirre, and Rui Vitoria.
As Egypt prepare for the Arab Cup, Elneny remains a trusted figure in the squad, recalled after a period on the fringes as the team looks to claim the title on Qatari soil. The Pharaohs arrive with seasoned experience and a belief that the trophy is there for the taking.
Elneny himself has highlighted that whenever Egypt competes, they carry a legitimate shot at glory, and that the team is primed to deliver its best effort in Doha.
Humor time: If Elneny can thread passes through defenses with the precision of a surgeon, maybe I can thread my socks through a laundry basket without losing a day to procrastination. And if time is on his side, perhaps my calendar should hire him as captain—because clearly someone needs to organize my weekends too.
