The Egypt national under-23 football team (), sometimes called the Egypt Olympic Team, nicknamed The Pharaohs (), is Egypt's under-23 national football team and is administered by the Egyptian Football Association. The team's main objectives are to qualify and play at the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations and Olympic Games. As of Los Angeles 2028, players need to be born on or after 1 January 2005 to participate but the team may be supplemented with 3 over-age players.
The team has played at the Olympic Games 13 times, with four of these being after the tournament became age capped. They're also the top-medalist at the U-23 African Cup.
History Egypt has had limited football success since 1992, when the Olympics first became locked for U-23 players. Egypt qualified to the 2012 Olympics after beating Senegal in the Bronze Metal Match. In the Olympics, they placed second in their group after a loss against Brazil, a draw with New Zealand and a win against Belarus. Their run was abruptly stopped by a 3-0 loss to Japan in the quarterfinals. They missed out on Rio 2016 but reached Tokyo 2020 as African Champions after winning the U-23 tournament at home. They placed second in their group after a nil-nil draw with European Champions Spain, a loss against South American Champions Argentina and a 2-0 win against Australia. They lost 1-0 at the quarterfinals to eventual gold-medalist Brazil.
Egypt qualified for the 2024 tournament after placing second in the 2023 U-23 African Cup. This marks the first time they play in successive tournaments since Tokyo 1964.
Results and fixtures
Legend
2024
Players Current squad The following players were called up for the friendly matches against Ghana and Congo on 15, 20 June and the 2023 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations between 24 June and 8 July 2023.
Previous squads 1992 Summer Olympics squad 2012 Summer Olympics squad 2020 Summer Olympics squad
Overage players in Olympic Games TournamentPlayer 1Player 2Player 3 Ahmed Fathy (DF) Mohamed Aboutrika (MF) Emad Moteab (FW) Mohamed El Shenawy (GK) Ahmed Hegazi (DF) Mahmoud Hamdy (DF)Mohamed Elneny (MF)Ahmed Sayed Zizo (FW)
Competitive record Olympic Games Summer Olympics recordYear/HostRound Barcelona 1992First round3102566420113 Atlanta 1996Did not qualify421154 Sydney 20008431159 Athens 20046006113 Beijing 2008412164 London 2012Quarter-finals4112689513126 Rio de Janeiro 2016Did not qualify110040 Tokyo 2020Quarter-finals4112225500114 Paris 2024Fourth place6222511531152Total4/9175481827472410137045 Prior to the 1992 Olympic Games campaign, the Olympic football tournament was open to full senior national teams. Egypt withdrew from the 1956 Football tournament and boycotted the 1980 Olympics after qualifying for both.
Africa U-23 Cup of Nations Africa U-23 Cup of Nations recordAppearances: 4Year/HostRound Morocco 2011 Bronze Medal 530274 Senegal 2015 Group Stage 302134 Egypt 2019Champions5500114 Morocco 2023Runners-up531152Total4/41811342614
African Games African Games recordAppearances: 7Year/HostRound Cairo 1991Fifth Place411256 Harare 1995Gold Medal540183 Johannesburg 1999Didn't qualify Abuja 2003Group Stage300326 Algiers 2007Group Stage300348 Maputo 2011Withdrew------ Brazzaville 2015Withdrew------Total7/1128133124439 Prior to the Cairo 1991 campaign, the All-Africa Games was open to full senior national teams
See also Sport in Egypt Football in Egypt Egypt national football team Egypt national under-20 football team Egypt national under-17 football team Egypt national futsal team Egypt national beach soccer team
References