Egypt's national team preliminary squad for this summer's African Cup of Nations will be announced within 48 hours according to assistant coach Hany Ramzy. "The technical staff already settled on 25 players for the preliminary squad that will be announced within 48 hours maximum," Ramzy told Sada El-Balad TV channel early on Tuesday. "The announcement of the preliminary squad will be officially made by the football association," he added. Egypt will host the Nations Cup, which has been expanded to 24 teams, from 21 June to 19 July. The record seven-time African champions will play in Group A along with DR Congo, Uganda and Zimbabwe. The Pharaohs will kick off the tournament by playing Zimbabwe on 21 June. "We called two extra players in case we could face any injures in the coming period. The final 23-man squad will be submitted on 11 June," concluded the former Ahly star Ramzy. Amid preparations for the prestigious tournament, Egypt team will play two friendly matches; the first against Tanzania on 13 June before playing Guinea three days later at Alexandria's Borg El-Arab Stadium. With Mexican tactician Javier Aguirre at the helm, the Egyptians are seeking to win the prestigious title for the first time since 2010, the last of their record seven victories. Egypt reached the final of the 2017 edition, only to lose 2-1 to Cameroon. ` (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
