Egypt s Under-23 coach, Rogerio Micale during a press conference on Saturady 24 June, 2023. Photo courtesy of EFA Facebook page.
The Young Pharaohs will begin their campaign in Morocco on Sunday, facing Niger in the first round of Group B games.
Speaking to the media at a pre-game press conference, Micale expressed confidence in his team's ability to meet the expectations of Egyptian fans and make a strong impression at the tournament.
"We have a convincing squad with brave players, and we are looking to achieve the fans' dream of going far in the tournament," he said.
While acknowledging the difficulty of the championship, Micale emphasized that his team is well-prepared and has studied their opponents.
"We watched the previous games of Niger and we respect them, but at the same time, we ask the Egyptian fans to be patient and have confidence in the players," the 54-year-old coach added.
Egypt, the defending champions, have been placed in Group B alongside Mali, Gabon, and Niger.
The top three teams from the Cup of Nations will represent Africa at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Egypt is competing to secure a place in the prestigious football tournament for the 13th time.
The Africa Under-23 Cup of Nations will take place from June 24 to July 8, hosted by Morocco, which competes in Group A alongside Ghana, Congo, and Guinea.
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