The upcoming 2024 African Cup of Nations, set to take place in Ivory Coast with the participation of 24 national teams, will witness a substantial Egyptian presence, primarily through Al Ahly and Pyramids.
The 24 teams have been divided into six groups, each comprising four teams.
Notable contenders include Egypt, Senegal, Morocco, Tunisia, Nigeria, and Algeria, representing the football prowess of the African continent.
The tournament kicks off on Sunday, January 13, 2024, with the opening match between Ivory Coast and Guinea-Bissau at the Hassan Wattara Olympic Stadium in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, at 10:00 PM Cairo time and 11:00 PM Mecca time.
In Group 2, Egypt has been drawn alongside Ghana, Cape Verde, and Mozambique.
The draw showcases the challenging path these teams will navigate in pursuit of continental glory.
Al Ahly leads the representation with 13 players, closely followed by Pyramids with 12 players.
Following them are Nouadhibou from Mauritania and Orlando Pirates from South Africa, tied at the third position with 9 players each.
Among the notable players are Mohamed El Shenawy, Ali Maaloul, Mohamed Abdel-Moneim “Afsha,” Aliou Dieng, Percy Tau, and Mahmoud Abdel-Moneim “Kahraba.”
In the European leagues, French club Lorient stands at the forefront with 7 players, with Metz (France), Kayserispor (Turkey), and Nottingham Forest (England) closely following with 6 players each.
AS Monaco, also from the French league, contributes 5 players.
The Angolan league tops the list of African domestic leagues with 48 participating players, followed by the Egyptian Premier League with 45 players, and the South African league securing the third spot with 42 players.
Notably, neither the Senegalese league nor the league of Guinea-Bissau will have any representation in the upcoming African Cup of Nations 2023.
This showcases the diversity of talent and the global reach of African football in various leagues around the world.
