Shawky Gharib appointed to oversee Egypt’s Olympic team ahead of 2028 preparations

The Egyptian Football Association has appointed Shawky Gharib to oversee the Egypt Olympic team while it finalises the appointment of a new head coach.

The under-23 side, made up of players born in 2005, is preparing to begin its work for the next stage with a training camp featuring several of the leading candidates to form the team’s core.

The gathering is intended to mark the first practical step in building the squad that will face the challenges ahead. Players will undergo a series of physical measurements and assessments, alongside lectures and psychological sessions designed to prepare them mentally for the demands of the coming period.

The programme will later move towards full physical and technical preparation.

The early work forms part of Egypt’s preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations Under-23, which will serve as a qualifying competition for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. The tournament is scheduled to be held in Cairo in November 2027.

By beginning the process now, the Egyptian Football Association aims to give the future coaching staff a clear assessment of the players available, including their physical and psychological condition, before the official preparations begin.

Gharib, who is the Egyptian Football Association’s technical director, will supervise the current camp until a new coaching staff for the Olympic team is confirmed. The association is expected to announce the new staff before the team’s first official gathering in November.

The move underlines the federation’s intention to start preparing for Los Angeles 2028 before the opening whistle of the first official camp. The process will include identifying potential players, evaluating their readiness and supporting their physical and psychological development for a long campaign focused on securing Olympic qualification.

Futsal preparations approved

The Egyptian Football Association’s board has also approved a preparation programme for the Egypt futsal team.

The plan includes friendly matches against Algeria and Zambia as part of the team’s build-up to the Africa Futsal Cup of Nations. The federation said the programme was designed to provide the strongest possible preparation through matches against high-quality opposition before the tournament begins.

The board also approved a new structure for the refereeing department, in line with the rules and standards of FIFA.

The revised structure is intended to improve the country’s refereeing system and raise the performance levels of referees and assistants. It will also strengthen training and development programmes across the sport.

The plans include further development of the referees’ academy, VAR, women’s refereeing and futsal refereeing. The federation said the changes were aimed at keeping Egyptian refereeing in line with international standards and improving its overall level.