The Egypt U-20 side (Photo: Ahram)
Four-time champions Egypt will kick off their U-20 African Championship campaign against Mali in Lusaka on Sunday, competing alongside hosts Zambia and Guinea in Group A.
Metemed Gamal's men will be vying for a top-two finish to qualify for the semis of the biennial tournament, whose all semi-finalists will reach the U-20 World Cup in South Korea.
Few players are quite known to Egyptian football fans having featured with the Ahly and Zamalek first-teams, with Karim Walid 'Nedved', Akram Tawfik and full-back Ahmed Aboul-Fotouh all in the Egypt squad.
Group B of the eight-team tournament comprises South Africa, Cameroon, Sudan and Senegal, who play the majority of their group games in Ndola.
The Pharaohs last won the African championship in 2013, 10 years after claiming the title with former manager Hassan Shehata.
The FIFA U-20 World Cup will take place in South Korea 20 May to 11 June in South Korea.
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