AFCON 2021: Egypt hopes of winning AFCON title dealt a blow
Egypt defender, Hegazi ruled out of AFCON
Egypt have received a huge blow ahead of their semi-final clash with Cameroon, as Hegazi (defender) has been ruled out of the tournament due to an injury.
The Egypt Football Association (EFA) has confirmed that the 31-year old will not feature against the Indomitable Lions and a third place or final match depending on the outcome on Thursday when they square up with Cameroon at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations.
Ahmed Hegazi ruptured the tendon of the adductor muscle during their quarterfinal match against the Atlas Lions on January 30 at Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaounde.
He got injured shortly before the first half, and was replaced by Trezeguet who scored the winning goal of the match for Egypt.
The injury is a big blow to the 2017 AFCON finalist, who is aiming to revenge their defeat against Cameroon in AFCON 2017 final. Cameroon won the match 2-1.
The EFA revealed in a statement posted on their official twitter account that the former West Brom star will not be able to complete the tournament.
“Hijazi sustained a rupture of the “connective” tendons. The x-rays conducted by Ahmed Hegazy, the national team player, showed that his injury is a rupture of the connective muscle tendons that requires treatment in a specialized center, which means that he is unable to complete the tournament that ends next Sunday.”
🔴 اصابة حجازي بتمزق في أوتار "الضامة".. 🇪🇬 ⬇️⬇️
أوضحت الأشعة التي أجراها أحمد حجازي لاعب المنتخب الوطني أن اصابته هي تمزق في أوتار العضلة الضامة يستوجب العلاج في أحد المراكز المتخصصة ، وهو ما يعني عدم تمكنه من استكمال البطولة التي تختتم يوم الأحد المقبل.#EFA pic.twitter.com/UZXEYPW8Pv
— EFA.eg (@EFA) January 31, 2022
Mohamed Abdelmoneim is expected to start in the place of Hegazi when they face the Indomitable Lions on Thursday.
Hegazi has joined the list of Egyptian players that picked up an injury in Cameroon. The players include Mohamed El-Shennawy, Mohamed Abou-Gabal, Mahmoud Hamdy El-Wensh, Akram Tawfik, Ahmed Fetouh, and Hamdi Fathi.
However, Mohamed Abou-Gabal who was also substituted in the game due to an injury is confident he will recover in time to play on Thursday.
“I only have a minor muscle cramp and I’m on my way to playing, God-willing, in the semi-finals against Cameroon. He told told Elbotola
