A top shot of Egypt Football Federation (EFF), Ehab Lehita has affirmed that the country’s national team coach, Javier Aguirre decided to experiment with Tuesday’s international friendly against Nigeria.
Sports247.ng can report that, while many Nigerian soccer fans were disappointed that Liverpool icon, Mohammed Salah did not feature for The Pharaohs in the game at Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba, Lehita simply said the plan all along had been to try out other players.
Lehita, who is also the Egyptian FA’s managing director, expatiated that, since it was the first friendly after the AFCON 2019 qualifiers, Aguirre felt it wise to rest Salah and a couple of other star players, while trying out some who have been holding out on the fringes.
Lehtita disclosed further that, apart from Salah, some other key players, including West Bromwich Albion defender, Ahmed Hegazi and Aston Villa winger Ahmed Elmohamady were not in Asaba with The Pharaohs.
He disclosed: ”Not only Salah is missing but three or four professional players that are not here also from the main eleven players, Hegazi, El Mohamady, Salah and locals also that are not coming.
”The coach decided to have this friendly match with Nigeria to try new players. There are six or seven new, so this is a good chance for them.”
