As champions, the Pharaohs have had the luxury of not having to qualify - though some Egyptian fans wished they had had that discipline.

Instead, the African champions travelled to Mexico for last year's FIFA Confederations Cup.

Having drawn tough matches against the hosts and Bolivia, Egypt needed a win over the weaker Saudi Arabia to progress to the semi-finals.

But they lost 5-1 - a defeat that caused the resignation of Nations Cup winning coach Mahmoud El Gohary, and many of his support staff.

Since taking over, new coach Frenchman Gerard Gili has already discounted the possibility of the Pharaohs winning the cup for the fifth time - his aim is qualifying for the World Cup.

History appears to justify his caution. The last team successfully to defend the Cup of Nations were the Black Stars of Ghana as far back as 35 years ago, when the event was much less competitive.

Players such as Hani Ramzy in defence, Hazem Imam in midfield and Hossam Hassan in attack will form the spine of the team.

They should be able to qualify from their group, but will do well to reach the semi-finals.

Egypt squad
		Coach: Gerard Gili, France
		Nader El Sayed	Club Bruges, Belgium
		Ibrahim Hassan	Al Ahli
		Mohamed Omara	Hansa Rostock, Germany
		Hani Ramzi	Kaiserslautern, Germany
		Abdelzaher El Saqqa	Denizelispor, Turkey
		Said Abdelhafiz	Al Ahli
		Mohamed Youssef	Denizelispor, Turkey
		Yasser Radwan	Hansa Rostock, Germany
		Hossam Hassan	Al Ahli
		Abdelsattar Sabry	Benfica, Portugal
		Tarek Al Said	Zamalek
		Hossam Abdelmonaim	Kocaelispor, Turkey
		Abdulhalim Ali	Zamalek
		Hazem Emam	De Graafschap, Netherlands
		Ibrahim Said	Al Ahli
		Essam Al Hadari	Al Ahli
		Ahmed Hassan	Kocaelispor, Turkey
		Mohamed Farouk	Al Ahli
		Ahmed Salah Hosni	VfB Stuttgart, Germany
		Hady Khashaba	Al Ahli
		Ayman Abdelaziz	Zamalek
		Abdelwahed El Sayed	Zamalek