Elneny injury blow for Egypt

Egypt are set to have to do without Mohamed Elneny for their Africa Cup of Nations semi-final after the Arsenal midfielder suffered a calf injury.


Elneny, 24, missed Egypt’s 1-0 quarter-final win against Morocco on Sunday with the problem and coach Hector Cuper said the aim now is for him to return for the final next weekend.

“Elneny has a bad calf strain. We will send a medical report to his club,” said Cuper after the win over Morocco in Port-Gentil.

“He will have tests and we hope if we manage to reach the final that he can return.”

Egypt will face Burkina Faso in the semi-final in Libreville on Wednesday and they are likely to be without striker Marwan Mohsen for that game too.

He came off in the first half against Morocco and Cuper said: “Mohsen looks to have a serious problem with a knee but we will need to carry out more detailed tests.”