Former Egyptian sports minister Khaled Abdel-Aziz has criticised Egypt national football team coach Javier Aguirre for dropping a number of stars from the Pharaohs' preliminary squad for this summer's African Cup of Nations. The preliminary Egyptian squad missed more talented players as Ahly winger Ramadan Sobhi and Zamaek's Mahmoud Kahraba were the prominent absentees alongside Ahly playmaker Saleh Gomaa and Zamalek's Abdalla Gomaa. "Someone should meet Mr. Aguirre and how him the Egyptian passports of the families of Gomaa, Abdalla and Saleh," Abdel-Aziz wrote on his Twitter account early on Thursday.
حد يقابل مستر آچيرى وياخد معاه صور الباسبورات المصرية بتاعة عائلة جمعة عبد الله وصالح. pic.twitter.com/Lah0lDnrOg — Khaled Abd ElAziz (@kh_aziz59) May 23, 2019 Ahly playmaker Gomaa was met with fan appreciations after his superb performance with the Red Devils during the previous league games, as did his brother Abdalla, who booked a regular place with his team, Zamalek. The 25-man squad is due to start a preparatory camp on 6 June to play two friendly matches; the first against Tanzania on 13 June, and the second against Guinea three days later at Alexandria's Borg El-Arab Stadium. 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. Egypt will kick off the tournament by playing Zimbabwe on 21 June. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
