Mohamed Salah will hope to end Egypt’s wait for the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) trophy after the Pharaohs named their squad for the 2023 finals, which begin on 13 January in Ivory Coast.
The North Africans won the most recent of their record seven continental titles in Angola in 2010.
They have been runners-up twice since then, with Liverpool forward Salah part of the sides beaten by Cameroon in 2017 and Senegal at the 2021 edition in February last year.
The 31-year-old is set to join Egypt’s training camp after the Reds host Newcastle United in the Premier League on 1 January.
The Pharaohs will face Ghana, Cape Verde and Mozambique in Group B at the finals, with coach Rui Vitoria cautious about his side’s prospects.
“We will treat each game as a final,” the Portuguese said.
Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny is also in Vitoria’s squad.
Egypt are set to face Tanzania in a pre-tournament friendly on 7 January, and Salah and Elneny could miss up to four Premier League games if the North Africans reach the Afcon final on 11 February.
Meanwhile, Leicester City forward Patson Daka has been included in Zambia’s squad for their campaign in West Africa, with the Chipolopolo drawn alongside Morocco, DR Congo and Tanzania in Group F.
Defender Stoppila Sunzu, who netted the decisive penalty when Zambia surprisingly won the Afcon title in 2012, is also in the 27-man squad.
The 2023 finals were originally due to take place in June and July, but were moved to early 2024 to avoid the rainy season in Ivory Coast.
Egypt squad for Afcon 2023
Goalkeepers: Mohamed El Shenawy (Al Ahly, Egypt), Ahmed El Shenawy (Pyramids, Egypt), Gabaski (National Bank of Egypt, Egypt), Mohamed Sobhi (Zamalek, Egypt).
Defenders: Ahmed Hegazy (Al Ittihad, Saudi Arabia), Mohamed Abdelmonem, Mohamed Hany (both Al Ahly, Egypt), Ali Gabr, Osama Galal, Ahmed Samy, Mohamed Hamdy (all Pyramids, Egypt), Omar Kamal (Future, Egypt), Ahmed Fatouh (Zamalek, Egypt).
Midfielders: Hamdi Fathi (Al Wakrah,Qatar), Mohamed Elneny (Arsenal, England), Marwan Attia, Emam Ashour, Ahmed Nabil Koka (all Al Ahly, Egypt), Zizo (Zamalek, Egypt), Mahmoud Hamada (Al Masry, Egypt).
Forwards: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool, England), Mostafa Fathi (Pyramids, Egypt), Trezeguet (Trabzonspor, Turkey), Omar Marmoush (Eintracht Frankfurt, Egypt), Mostafa Mohamed (Nantes, France), Kahraba (Al Ahly, Egypt), Ahmed Hassan (Pendikspor, Turkey).
Zambia squad for Afcon 2023
Goalkeepers: Lawrence Mulenga (Power Dynamos, Zambia), Francis Mwansa (Green Buffaloes, Zambia), Toaster Nsabata (Zesco United, Zambia).
Defenders: Dominic Chanda (Power Dynamos, Zambia), Benedict Chepeshi (Red Arrows, Zambia), Rodrick Kabwe (Zakho, Iraq), Gift Mphande (Hapoel Rishon LeZion, Israel), Frankie Musonda (Ayr United, Scotland), Tandi Mwape (TP Mazembe, DR Congo), Zephaniah Phiri (Prison Leopards, Zambia), Stoppila Sunzu (Jinan Xingzhou, China).
Midfielders: Emmanuel Banda (HNK Rijeka, Croatia), Rally Bwalya (Sekhukhune United, South Africa), Miguel Chaiwa (Young Boys, Switzerland), Clatous Chama (Simba, Tanzania), Edward Chilufya (Hacken, Sweden), Kings Kangwa (Red Star Belgrade, Serbia), Kelvin Kapumbu (Zesco United, Zambia), Golden Mafwenta (MFK Vyskov, Czech Republic), Kelvin Kampamba (Zesco United, Zambia), Fredrick Mulambia (Power Dynamos, Zambia), Lubambo Musonda (Silkeborg, Denmark), Benson Sakala (Mlada Boleslav, Czech Republic).
Forwards: Lameck Banda (Lecce, Italy), Patson Daka (Leicester City, England), Kennedy Musonda (Young Africans, Tanzania), Fashion Sakala (Al Fayha, Saudi Arabia).
