Shikabala questions Egypt squad selections, backs Zamalek duo for World Cup place

Former Zamalek captain Mahmoud Abdel-Razek Shikabala has weighed in on Egypt’s national team selection ahead of the World Cup, arguing that Mohamed Shehata and Mohamed Ismail deserved inclusion after their strong performances this season.

Speaking in an interview, Shikabala praised the consistency and impact of the Zamalek duo, saying they had stood out over the course of the campaign and merited consideration from the national team’s technical staff.

He also addressed the omission of Mohamed Abdel Moneim, noting that while he holds the player in high regard, his recent lack of regular game time should have been a factor in squad selection decisions.

Shikabala further criticised the absence of Egypt’s coaching staff, led by Hossam Hassan, from Zamalek’s continental final, suggesting their presence in the stands would have been important for closely assessing players competing at the highest level.

The former captain also expressed surprise at the exclusion of Mostafa Mohamed from the national team setup, pointing out that the striker has been consistently featuring in the French league and remains in active competition at a high level.