Egypt U-20 coach Ahmed Raouf doubts Hamza Abdel Karim’s AFCON availability, targets World Cup return

Egypt U-20 coach Ahmed Raouf has admitted that Barcelona youngster Hamza Abdel Karim is unlikely to feature at the 2027 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations in Ghana, but remains hopeful of having the striker available for the FIFA U-20 World Cup.

According to reports, Abdel Karim’s international future has become a concern for Egypt, with the tournament scheduled for February potentially clashing with his commitments at Barcelona.

Speaking on the “Here Is Cairo” programme on ON Sport, Raouf acknowledged the difficulty of securing the forward’s services for the continental competition.

“Hamza Abdel Karim’s participation in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations is unlikely, but we aim to include him in the Youth World Cup,” the coach said.

Barcelona are reportedly unwilling to release the 18-year-old for the February tournament, while the player is also keen to continue his development at the Spanish club rather than interrupt his progress with the first team.

However, neither Barcelona nor Abdel Karim has officially confirmed the reported position, and Raouf has not disclosed the specific reasons behind his doubts over the striker’s availability.

Egypt have already secured qualification for the U-20 World Cup after winning the North African U-20 Championship. The young Pharaohs defeated Algeria 2-0 to finish top of their group with nine points, two ahead of Morocco.

Abdel Karim is regarded as one of Egypt’s promising attacking prospects, and his absence from the Africa U-20 Cup of Nations would be a setback for Raouf’s plans as the team prepares to compete on home-continent soil in Ghana.

The young forward has continued to attract attention following his move to Barcelona, where he is seeking to establish himself within the club’s development structure under head coach Hansi Flick.

He has also made an impression at senior international level, scoring his first goal for Egypt during their 5-0 victory over South Sudan after coming on as a substitute for Omar Marmoush.

With the Africa U-20 Cup of Nations scheduled for February 2027, Egypt face uncertainty over whether the Barcelona youngster will be available for the tournament. Raouf’s immediate hope is to secure his participation at the U-20 World Cup, where Abdel Karim could have another opportunity to represent his country on the international stage.