Egypt goalkeeping coach Ahmed Nagi said on Tuesday that Zamalek's Ahmed El-Shennawi is the current "number one keeper" in the country.

El-Shennawi has been manager Hector Cuper's first choice since the Argentinean took over at the team in February 2015. His understudy is often Ahly's Sherif Ekramy while veteran goalie Essam El-Hadari has recently emerged as a third-choice shot-stopper.

"He [El-Shennawi] made some mistakes with Zamalek but he was excellent with the Pharaohs against Nigeria. He is the country's number one keeper," Nagi said in a television interview on Tuesday.

 El-Shennawi produced a fine performance in Egypt's double-header against Nigeria in the African Nations Cup qualifiers, helping them move within touching distance of a place at next year's Gabon finals for the first time since 2010.

Egypt are on the top of Group G with seven points, five ahead of second-placed Nigeria and six clear of Tanzania, who at the bottom following Chad's sudden withdrawal.

Nigeria lost any hopes of qualifying for the Nations Cup while Tanzania's only chance is beating Egypt by more than a three-goal margin to have the upper hand in the head-to-head record, given that they suffered an opening 3-0 defeat in June last year, and overcoming Nigeria in their final game.

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