Egypt national team coach Hector Cuper spoke about the Pharaohs’ upcoming match against Tunisia, Salah’s possible move to Liverpool and Tunisia’s new coach Nabil Maaloul.
Cuper announced Egypt’s full squad for Tunisia clash on June 11 in Rades stadium kicking off their qualification road to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon. The Argentinian coach called up 25 players to join the national team’s training camp in preparations for the match.
Both teams have been drawn in Group J, alongside Niger and Swaziland. CAF have announced that Morrocan referee Bouchaib Lahrach will officiate the game.
“We will head to Tunisia to win the match,” Cuper said in a press conference on Sunday. “We realize that preparing our players for the match might be a bit hard as Egyptian players abroad finished the season a while ago, however, I trust our players’ enthusiasm and determination.”
Egypt’s coach pointed out that even though his team earned second place in the 2017 AFCON in Gabon, that does not give them an advantage over Tunisia as some might think. “We need to be realistic and focused when competing with the Eagles of Carthage,” he added.
As for his players’ choices, the 61-year-old coach defended his way of choosing players assuring that he and the technical staff never regretted any of the players who joined the national team. “We trust Hossam Ashour and Amr Gamal. They are the best fit for our match against Tunisia in my opinion,” he explained.
Regarding Tunisia’s new coach Nabil Maaloul, he said: “Nabil Maaloul is a new coach, and each coach has his own strategy. It is hard however for a new coach to completely change old strategies but Tunisia is a tough opponent in all cases.”
When asked about the national team’s winger Mohamed Salah and his potential move to Liverpool from AS Roma, Cuper refrained from giving Salah any advice regarding his future. “Mohamed Salah makes his own decisions and he knows well what club he should play for.
The player has an agent who takes care of such stuff while he focuses on his performance with us,” he said.
King Fut
