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Egypt’s success in the late 2000s at the Africa Cup of Nations can be attributed to their forward-thinking attackers. These players had a clear directive when stepping onto the field: score goals. In 2006, Ahmed Hassan and Emad Moteab were responsible for eight out of Egypt’s 12 goals. Two years later, the trio of Hosny Abd Rabo, Mohamed Aboutrika, and Amr Zaki each scored four goals. In 2010, it was once again Ahmed Hassan and super-sub Gedo who dominated, with an average of one goal every 35 minutes.
The national team currently has their highest-scoring player ever, Mohamed Salah. However, there has been a shift in mentality and he has only scored six goals in three Afcon tournaments, with two goals in each. This, paired with the fact that he is the main creator for Egypt, makes it evident that he requires assistance.
Since the successful era of the late 2000s, Egypt has reached two Afcon finals, but were defeated by Cameroon in 2017 and fell short against Senegal in 2022. Throughout both of these runs, Egypt’s defensive style of play led them to the final match, but it ultimately resulted in their downfall.
Defensive football should not be seen as inherently negative. In certain situations, it is necessary. In tournament football, being tactically astute is often crucial for success. If Salah and his team had won either of the Afcon trophies, no one in Egypt would have criticized their defensive style of play. However, their losses in the finals highlight the importance of finding a balance. While a solid defense can take a team far, having skilled goal scorers (note the plural) who can come through in crucial moments is essential. If Egypt relies solely on Salah to carry the weight of scoring and creating chances at Afcon, they are likely to face a familiar outcome.
The current front line for Egypt features Salah and Mahmoud Hassan, also known as Trézéguet, on the wings and Nantes’ Mostafa Mohamed as the centre-forward. While all three are performing well for their respective clubs, there is another player who could become a strong scoring threat and offer some relief for Salah: Omar Marmoush.
Since joining Eintracht Frankfurt last summer, the 24-year-old has excelled, stepping in for the seemingly irreplaceable Randal Kolo Muani. Marmoush is currently the top scorer for Eintracht, surpassing his previous season’s record with seven goals and three assists in 14 league matches.
Marmoush has had a standout season, with his most notable performance being in Frankfurt’s 5-1 win against Bayern Munich where he scored a goal and made two assists. However, his overall performance is even more impressive when you consider the different types of goals he is capable of scoring. Whether it’s using his strength to outmuscle defenders, scoring from long-range shots, or skillfully dribbling through a crowded defense, Marmoush has truly transformed as a player.
He originally played as a winger, but under the guidance of Dino Toppmöller, he has adapted to playing in a more advanced position. This newfound flexibility has allowed him to play as a lone striker or as part of a striking duo, which has improved his ability to score goals. After Marmoush scored the first two goals in Frankfurt’s 3-0 victory over Union Berlin, Toppmöller praised his player’s growth, stating that he has now become a strong goal scorer. Toppmöller also mentioned that they have been working on developing this skill with Marmoush and the goals he is scoring are a result of his dedication and hard work for the team.
Due to his quickness, he consistently puts defenders in difficult situations when he makes those deep runs. However, he has also developed a knack for finding himself in threatening areas repeatedly and using his technical skill to assist our team.
The Egypt coach, Rui Vitória, has taken note of his progress this season and even mentioned Marmoush as a scoring threat alongside Mohamed, leading to speculation about a potential new role for him.
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Mohamed plays the role of a traditional center forward, providing Egypt with a strong presence in the air and constantly working to outplay opposing center-backs. However, he may sometimes find himself alone on the field. On the other hand, Marmoush is known for his ability to take more accurate shots, create more opportunities, and make more progressive runs per 90 minutes than Mohamed and Trézéguet. He has also shown proficiency in dropping back to midfield, maneuvering out of difficult situations, and setting up scoring chances for his teammates, including Salah.
For over ten years, Egypt has lacked strong options in the forward positions. However, there is now hope that Vitória will recognize the individual strengths of his front players and make decisions accordingly.
After their victory in 2010, Egypt has found themselves in a peculiar situation. They are frequently considered one of the top contenders in the Afcon due to their reputation and star player, Salah, but their performance has been lackluster. Opposing teams tend to defend with a deep strategy against the Pharaohs, who also struggle to produce strong attacks and end up playing defensively as well.
The outcome is, at most, a tedious 90 minutes for those who support Egypt, as it often ends with another team winning the trophy. In Ivory Coast, we can anticipate a familiar Egypt team with a rough playing style from the last decade, but perhaps this time, there will be a hint of the smooth, skillful football that fans have come to associate with the team’s golden generation.
Salah has always been the standout player for the Pharaohs and is expected to maintain that status for the foreseeable future. He has consistently been in the public eye since his debut and has been responsible for carrying a lackluster team. However, his efforts have not been sufficient. Just as every big name requires a suitable supporting player, Marmoush could be that perfect fit if given the opportunity.
Source: theguardian.com
