Mohamed Barakat, 47, has shared his opinion on the Pharaohs of Egypt ahead of the AFCON.
The former Egyptian right winger who won the 2006 AFCON with Egypt conveyed the objective of Egypt in the Group Stage.
“We want to top our group. It makes us proud that we are the kings of the continent after winning this tournament seven times,” Barakat told Al-Mehwar. The former Al Ahly Box-to-box midfielder was super proud in talking about Egypt’s 7 titles in the AFCON.
The 2005 BBC African Footballer of the Year waxed lyrical about Al Ahly’s dependable defender Yasser Ibrahim and lamented on Vitoria’s decision to exclude him from his final 27-man squad.
“Yasser Ibrahim deserves to be in the national team squad. He is currently one of the pillars at Al Ahly and he had an influential role during the Club World Cup.
Mohammed Barakat, who won 5 CAF Champions League titles with Al Ahly in 2005, 2006, 2008, 2012 and 2013 praised Portuguese manager, Rui Vitoria, and expressed his optimism in the coach winning Egypt’s 8th AFCON trophy.
“Vitoria is also a great manager who is capable of taking Egypt to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations because he has a strong character but the competition will not be easy.”
Egypt has gone 14 years without winning the AFCON trophy and is ready to lift it with Mohammed Salah spearheading the Pharoah’s attack.
Egypt is grouped in B alongside Ghana, Cape Verde and Mozambique.
