AFCON 2023: El Shenawy ruled out for Egypt, Gabaski set to take over
By Ngome Michael
Sven-time AFCON winners, Egypt will be without first choice goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy for the remainder of the AFCON tournament in Côte D’Ivoire after the Al Ahly shot stopper suffered a shoulder injury against Cape Verde, the Egyptian FA has confirmed.
El Shenawy led a quartette of goalkeeper summoned by Ruí Vitoria but will no longer continue in the competition after landing awkwardly on his his shoulder late against Cape Verde as the pharoahs sailed to the round of 16 at the expense Ghana.
The 35-year-old attempted to stop Bryan Teixeira from leveling for Cape Verde in added time but, picked up an injury which further examinations with an x-ray conducted reveals he will undergo a surgery leaving him unfit for the next knockout matches.
Shenawy’s injury gives way for second choice Mohamed Abougabal fondly known as GABASKI to step in what looks like a reoccurrance of events in 2021.
The former didn’t complete Egypt’s last AFCON which they lost to Senegal in the final due to injury at the quater finals against Côte D’Ivoire in Cameroon making way for Gabaski to see off the last matches with notable heroics during penalty shootouts.
El Shenawy has not been up to expectations for Egypt in the last three matches, conceding two goals in every game. He adds to Egypt’s worries after Mohamed went off against Ghana from a posterior muscle injury, set to miss to matches
Mohamed Abougaba (Gabaski) must therefore join a resilient pharoah team in the next phase of the competition hoping to right, wrongs of last outing in Cameroon.
