VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC confirmed today that midfielder Aly Ghazal has been called up to the Egyptian national team for next month’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier vs. Niger.
The match will take place during the FIFA international window on September 8 in Egypt. It will be the first match in charge for Javier Aguirre, a Mexican head coach who took over the Egyptian national team following the recent 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Ghazal has five caps for the Egyptian senior national team; however, this is his first call-up since an Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match in September 2014. Also included on the roster are Orlando City SC defender Amro Tarek and Liverpool FC star Mohamed Salah.
A native of Cairo, Egypt, Ghazal joined Whitecaps FC in August 2017 from Chinese Super League side Guizhou Zhicheng after beginning his professional career with Portuguese Primeira Liga side C.D. Nacional.
The 26-year-old has started 20 of his 24 MLS appearances thus far, including all three of Vancouver’s matches in last year’s MLS Cup Playoffs. He is second on the team with 2.43 tackles per game this season.
Egypt dropped their first 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier last June vs. Tunisia. The Pharaohs are the most successful nation in the history of the Africa Cup of Nations but haven’t won the competition since 2010.
Next up for Ghazal and the 'Caps are back-to-back matches vs. San Jose Earthquakes on August 25 at Avaya Stadium (7 p.m. PT on TSN2 and 1410 AM) and September 1 at BC Place (7 p.m. PT at BC Place - tickets still available).
