Egypt are back on the global stage after a 12-year absence, having qualified for the FIFA U-20 World Cup Chile 2025™ with a defeat of Ghana in a dramatic quarter-final clash at the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations. There, they prevailed 5-4 in a penalty shootout after fighting to a 2-2 draw in regulation time. Though they bowed out of the continental tournament with a 1-0 semi-final loss to Morocco, Egypt performed well and truly earned their spot in the World Cup.
Now, however, they face a tough task in Group A, where hosts Chile, Japan and New Zealand present a genuine challenge. Egypt boast a proud World Cup pedigree, most notably reaching the semi-finals at Argentina 2001 where they finished in third place. That was Egypt’s finest moment in the tournament, and the current generation, determined and ambitious, are set on matching or surpassing it.
Egypt’s Group A fixtures
27 September
Japan-Egypt (17:00 local time, Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Pradanos)
30 September
Egypt-New Zealand (17:00 local time, Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Pradanos)
3 October
Egypt-Chile (20:00 local time, Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Pradanos)
The coach: Osama Nabih
Osama Nabih, 50, is a prominent alumnus of Zamalek, where he began his career as a player. He transferred to play for Tersana, then returned to Zamalek to win domestic and continental titles, most notably the CAF Champions League in 1996 and the CAF Super Cup in 1997, along with league and cup titles. He also donned the Egypt shirt as part of the generation that won the 1998 Africa Cup of Nations in Burkina Faso, forever etching his name into Pharaohs’ lore.
After hanging up his boots in 2009, Nabih moved into coaching, working as an assistant at Zamalek before joining the staff of Egypt’s senior national team, where he was part of the set-up that guided the Pharaohs to qualification for 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™. He took charge of Egypt’s U-20s in January and despite having mere weeks in the role before the start of the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations, he led the team to the semi-finals and a berth at Chile 2025, demonstrating his tactical impact and ability to manage difficult situations.
Star player: Omar Khedr
Aston Villa’s Omar Khedr is one of the standouts of Egypt’s U-20 team, having turned heads with his speed, attacking prowess, and craftiness in and around the box. The 19-year-old winger featured for the Young Pharaohs at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and was a pillar in Nabih’s setup until suffering an injury that sidelined him for the crucial match against Ghana.
Khedr began his career in Zamalek’s youth ranks, then moved to ZED before making the leap to Europe by formally joining Aston Villa in summer 2024 at just 18 years old. His transfer to Villa actually had been sealed a year earlier, making him one of Egypt’s most prominent rising talents in Europe. Training in a demanding environment has sharpened his technical and physical edge, as reflected in his performance with Egypt. He is expected to be key to the attack in Chile 2025.
One to watch: Kabaka
Known by the nickname “Kabaka,” Ahmed Khaled is a midfielder for Al Ahly SC currently on loan to ZED. The 20-year-old captain plays a vital role for Egypt, stepping up in big moments by scoring and creating goals, and he netted twice – against Libya and Tunisia – in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
During the continental tournament he played a pivotal role, striking against Sierra Leone and providing the decisive pass for Ahmed Ashraf to score the winner against Tanzania. Calm and steady in the midfield, he has shown an ability to build attacks and link play, entirely apart from his leadership role – all of which makes him a name to know heading into the global tournament.
Picture credits: CAF
