As the curtain rises on the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, Egypt are all set to kick off their quest for a record-extending eighth continental title against Zimbabwe in their Group B opener in Agadir on Monday.
Here are some of the main talking points surrounding the Pharaohs entering the competition.
A 15-year drought
No team has matched Egypt's record seven Afcon championships, including an unprecedented three-peat between 2006 and 2010.
But the Pharaohs have not triumphed in the competition since, and arrive in Morocco looking to end a 15-year Afcon drought.
After failing to qualify in three editions (2012, 2013, and 2015), losing two finals (2017 and 2021), and getting knocked out of the last-16 twice (2019 and 2023), Egypt are out to reestablish themselves as an African powerhouse, and carry the weight of expectations of 120 million fans back home.
Afcon fever has already taken over the Egyptian streets, with all television commercials carrying the same message: “We want the eighth star”.
One of the most replayed TV ads from a major telecom company released ahead of Morocco 2025 paints a satirical image of just how long it’s been since Egypt have won the Afcon.
Featuring a group of Egyptian football legends including Mido, Essam El Hadary, Mohamed Barakat, Wael Gomaa, Hossam Ghaly and Sayed Moawad, who have all been on Afcon-winning squads, the TV spot pokes fun at some of the events that have occurred since Egypt’s last continental success; be it Mido’s frequent weight fluctuations, El Hadary becoming a grandfather, or Sayed Moawad’s son Omar (Real Betis) becoming a U20 national team player himself.
Despite Egypt’s struggles and near misses in recent years, the national team players are feeling confident that their luck will turn in this year’s edition.
“This is my fifth participation in this competition. I reached two finals and I haven’t won it yet. But I feel like this time the spirit among the coaching staff and the squad is very high, we are all working as one unit and I’m hopeful this generation will make it happen,” said midfielder Mahmoud Hassan ‘Trezeguet’ on Sunday ahead of the Zimbabwe game.
“As coach Hossam Hassan said, you can’t end your career without winning a title with the national team. God willing, we will reap the rewards of all the effort we have put in over the past period.”
All eyes on Salah
If the pressure is high on Egypt to revive their African glory days, the majority of that pressure undoubtedly lies on the shoulders of Liverpool star Mohamed Salahrecently released.
Just like Lionel Messi spent years being criticised for not winning silverware with Argentina before he finally silenced his doubters and won the Copa America (twice) and the World Cup, Salah is constantly under scrutiny for not delivering a championship for Egypt.
The 33-year-old joins the national team at a turbulent time, as his future at Liverpool hangs in the balance.
The Afcon is a chance for him to shift the narrative away from his problems with his club, recapture his form and remind the world of what he’s capable of on the pitch, and most importantly, fulfil his dream of lifting a trophy in an Egyptian jersey.
A recently released TV ad shows Salah walking with his daughters to practice. His eldest, Makkah, asks him why he is going to train on his day off. “Haven’t you won everything already?” she says. “Not yet,” Salah responds. “This is Egypt!”
The sentiment is clear and the "Egyptian King" seems determined as ever.
Salah hasn’t started for Liverpool since a 4-1 home defeat to PSV Eindhoven in the Uefa Champions League on November 30, but Egypt manager Hossam Hassan says his spirits have been high since he linked up with his national teammates.
“I believe Salah will be among the best players at the tournament and he will remain an icon and one of the best players in the world,” said Hassan. “I support him technically and morally, because we cannot forget that Salah needs to win the Africa Cup of Nations.”
Do or die for Hossam Hassan
With rumours afloat that the Egyptian Football Association has lined up replacements for Hassan, in the event Afcon results don’t go Egypt’s way, the 59-year-old former striker will be under intense pressure in Morocco.
Hassan, who is Egypt’s all-time goal-scorer and has won three Afcons, took over the Pharaohs last year and helped guide them to the 2026 Fifa World Cup. He wants nothing more than to be in charge when Egypt head to North America next summer for just their fourth global finals appearance.
Following a friendly victory over Cape Verde last month, Hassan made controversial comments about the quality of the Egypt squad, saying he had at his disposal only “two and a quarter” players competing professionally in Europe – Salah, Manchester City’s Omar Marmoush, and the “quarter” he was referring to being Nantes striker Mostafa Mohamed.
Hassan elaborated by saying that Mohamed would excel in Ligue 1 if he were given the chance to play but the statements were generally considered negative and have been met with a great deal of criticism.
In Sunday’s press conference in Agadir, Hassan did well to reaffirm his faith in the squad, saying: “The generation we have right now is very ambitious. We know how tough this competition is, but Egypt is a big team and we are out to contend for the title. Egyptian fans are waiting for us to deliver and we are capable of that.”
He added: “We have created a team that includes players from different age groups. We have 14 new players. We called up players from the squad that played in the Paris 2024 Olympics, in addition to the players we called up from the Egyptian Premier League, and the veteran players who have competed in previous editions, as well as the players who play in Europe.
“I believe I have a mix of players that allows us to aim for an eighth Afcon title. A champion has to be ready to live up to expectations. Egypt is a big team and will continue to be a big team in this competition, as well as future ones.
Strong group stage record
The Pharaohs have lost just one of their last 22 Afcon group matches and are unbeaten in 20 out of 26 opening games in tournament history.
Their most recent opening-game defeat came in the 2021 edition against Nigeria.
Egypt advanced to the knockouts in each of their previous seven Afcon appearances. The last time they failed to do so was in 2004.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Mohamed El Shenawy (Al Ahly), Ahmed El Shenawy (Pyramids FC), Mostafa Shobeir (Al Ahly), Mohamed Sobhi (Zamalek)
Defenders: Mohamed Hany (Al Ahly), Ahmed Eid (Al Masry), Rami Rabia (Al Ain), Khaled Sobhi (Al Masry), Yasser Ibrahim (Al Ahly), Mohamed Ismail (Zamalek), Hossam Abdelmaguid (Zamalek), Mohamed Hamdy (Pyramids), Ahmed Fatouh (Zamalek)
Midfielders: Marwan Attia (Al Ahly), Hamdi Fathi (Al Wakrah), Mohanad Lasheen (Pyramids), Mahmoud Saber (ZED FC), Mohamed Shehata (Zamalek), Imam Ashour (Al Ahly), Ahmed Sayed “Zizo” (Al Ahly), Mahmoud Hassan “Trezeguet” (Al Ahly), Ibrahim Adel (Al Jazira), Mostafa Fathi (Pyramids), Omar Marmoush (Manchester City), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Forwards: Mostafa Mohamed (Nantes), Salah Mohsen (Al Masry), Osama Faisal (National Bank of Egypt SC)
Group B match schedule
Monday, December 22: Egypt v Zimbabwe (midnight kick-off UAE)
Friday, December 26: Egypt v South Africa (7pm)
Monday, December 29: Egypt v Angola (8pm)
Abu Dhabi GP schedule
Friday: First practice - 1pm; Second practice - 5pm
Saturday: Final practice - 2pm; Qualifying - 5pm
Sunday: Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (55 laps) - 5.10pm
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The design
The protective shell is covered in solar panels to make use of light and produce energy. This will drastically reduce energy loss.
More than 80 per cent of the energy consumed by the French pavilion will be produced by the sun.
The architecture will control light sources to provide a highly insulated and airtight building.
The forecourt is protected from the sun and the plants will refresh the inner spaces.
A micro water treatment plant will recycle used water to supply the irrigation for the plants and to flush the toilets. This will reduce the pavilion’s need for fresh water by 30 per cent.
Energy-saving equipment will be used for all lighting and projections.
Beyond its use for the expo, the pavilion will be easy to dismantle and reuse the material.
Some elements of the metal frame can be prefabricated in a factory.
From architects to sound technicians and construction companies, a group of experts from 10 companies have created the pavilion.
Work will begin in May; the first stone will be laid in Dubai in the second quarter of 2019.
Construction of the pavilion will take 17 months from May 2019 to September 2020.
UAE currency
Match info
Deccan Gladiators 87-8
Asif Khan 25, Dwayne Bravo 2-16
Maratha Arabians 89-2
Chadwick Walton 51 not out
Arabians won the final by eight wickets
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BeIN Sports currently has the rights to show
- Champions League
- English Premier League
- Spanish Primera Liga
- Italian, French and Scottish leagues
- Wimbledon and other tennis majors
- Formula One
- Rugby Union - Six Nations and European Cups
The Lowdown
Us
Director: Jordan Peele
Starring: Lupita Nyong'o, Winston Duke, Shahadi Wright Joseqph, Evan Alex and Elisabeth Moss
Rating: 4/5
While you're here
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
HOW TO WATCH
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contractworth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
'Spies in Disguise'
Director: Nick Bruno and Troy Quane
Stars: Will Smith, Tom Holland, Karen Gillan and Roshida Jones
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Swiss fly direct from the UAE to Zurich from Dh2,855 return, including taxes.
The chalet
Chalet N is currently open in winter only, between now and April 21. During the ski season, starting on December 11, a week’s rental costs from €210,000 (Dh898,431) per week for the whole property, which has 22 beds in total, across six suites, three double rooms and a children’s suite. The price includes all scheduled meals, a week’s ski pass, Wi-Fi, parking, transfers between Munich, Innsbruck or Zurich airports and one 50-minute massage per person. Private ski lessons cost from €360 (Dh1,541) per day. Halal food is available on request.
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WORLD CUP SQUAD
Dimuth Karunaratne (Captain), Angelo Mathews, Avishka Fernando, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kusal Mendis (wk), Kusal Perera (wk), Dhananjaya de Silva, Thisara Perera, Isuru Udana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Jeevan Mendis, Milinda Siriwardana, Lasith Malinga, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
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While you're here
Tips for avoiding trouble online
Do not post incorrect information and beware of fake news
Do not publish or repost racist or hate speech, yours or anyone else’s
Do not incite violence and be careful how to phrase what you want to say
Do not defame anyone. Have a difference of opinion with someone? Don’t attack them on social media
Do not forget your children and monitor their online activities
It Was Just an Accident
Director: Jafar Panahi
Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr
Rating: 4/5
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
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Bugatti Chiron Super Sport - the specs:
Engine: 8.0-litre quad-turbo W16
Transmission: 7-speed DSG auto
Power: 1,600hp
Torque: 1,600Nm
0-100kph in 2.4seconds
0-200kph in 5.8 seconds
0-300kph in 12.1 seconds
Top speed: 440kph
Price: Dh13,200,000
Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport - the specs:
Engine: 8.0-litre quad-turbo W16
Transmission: 7-speed DSG auto
Power: 1,500hp
Torque: 1,600Nm
0-100kph in 2.3 seconds
0-200kph in 5.5 seconds
0-300kph in 11.8 seconds
Top speed: 350kph
Price: Dh13,600,000
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Friday Athletic Bilbao v Celta Vigo (Kick-off midnight UAE)
Saturday Levante v Getafe (5pm), Sevilla v Real Madrid (7.15pm), Atletico Madrid v Real Valladolid (9.30pm), Cadiz v Barcelona (midnight)
Sunday Granada v Huesca (5pm), Osasuna v Real Betis (7.15pm), Villarreal v Elche (9.30pm), Alaves v Real Sociedad (midnight)
Monday Eibar v Valencia (midnight)
HOW%20TO%20ACTIVATE%20THE%20GEMINI%20SHORTCUT%20ON%20CHROME%20CANARY
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What are the influencer academy modules?
Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
Cinematography, shots and movement.
All aspects of post-production.
Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
Tourism industry knowledge.
Professional ethics.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Scoreline:
Cardiff City 0
Liverpool 2
Wijnaldum 57', Milner 81' (pen)
The specs: 2018 Volkswagen Teramont
Price, base / as testedDh137,000 / Dh189,950
Engine3.6-litre V6
GearboxEight-speed automatic
Power280hp @ 6,200rpm
Torque 360Nm @ 2,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined11.7L / 100km
One in nine do not have enough to eat
Created in 1961, the World Food Programme is pledged to fight hunger worldwide as well as providing emergency food assistance in a crisis.
One of the organisation’s goals is the Zero Hunger Pledge, adopted by the international community in 2015 as one of the 17 Sustainable Goals for Sustainable Development, to end world hunger by 2030.
The WFP, a branch of the United Nations, is funded by voluntary donations from governments, businesses and private donations.
Almost two thirds of its operations currently take place in conflict zones, where it is calculated that people are more than three times likely to suffer from malnutrition than in peaceful countries.
It is currently estimated that one in nine people globally do not have enough to eat.
On any one day, the WFP estimates that it has 5,000 lorries, 20 ships and 70 aircraft on the move.
Outside emergencies, the WFP provides school meals to up to 25 million children in 63 countries, while working with communities to improve nutrition. Where possible, it buys supplies from developing countries to cut down transport cost and boost local economies.
UAE%20medallists%20at%20Asian%20Games%202023
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The BIO
Favourite piece of music: Verdi’s Requiem. It’s awe-inspiring.
Biggest inspiration: My father, as I grew up in a house where music was constantly played on a wind-up gramophone. I had amazing music teachers in primary and secondary school who inspired me to take my music further. They encouraged me to take up music as a profession and I follow in their footsteps, encouraging others to do the same.
Favourite book: Ian McEwan’s Atonement – the ending alone knocked me for six.
Favourite holiday destination: Italy - music and opera is so much part of the life there. I love it.
More from this package
What are NFTs?
Are non-fungible tokens a currency, asset, or a licensing instrument? Arnab Das, global market strategist EMEA at Invesco, says they are mix of all of three.
You can buy, hold and use NFTs just like US dollars and Bitcoins. “They can appreciate in value and even produce cash flows.”
However, while money is fungible, NFTs are not. “One Bitcoin, dollar, euro or dirham is largely indistinguishable from the next. Nothing ties a dollar bill to a particular owner, for example. Nor does it tie you to to any goods, services or assets you bought with that currency. In contrast, NFTs confer specific ownership,” Mr Das says.
This makes NFTs closer to a piece of intellectual property such as a work of art or licence, as you can claim royalties or profit by exchanging it at a higher value later, Mr Das says. “They could provide a sustainable income stream.”
This income will depend on future demand and use, which makes NFTs difficult to value. “However, there is a credible use case for many forms of intellectual property, notably art, songs, videos,” Mr Das says.
Race card for Super Saturday
4pm: Al Bastakiya Listed US$250,000 (Dh918,125) (Dirt) 1,900m.
4.35pm: Mahab Al Shimaal Group 3 $200,000 (D) 1,200m.
5.10pm: Nad Al Sheba Conditions $200,000 (Turf) 1,200m.
5.45pm: Burj Nahaar Group 3 $200,000 (D) 1,600m.
6.20pm: Jebel Hatta Group 1 $300,000 (T) 1,800m.
6.55pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 Group 1 $400,000 (D) 2,000m.
7.30pm: Dubai City of Gold Group 2 $250,000 (T) 2,410m.
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Saturday (UAE kick-off times)
Cologne v Union Berlin (5.30pm)
Fortuna Dusseldorf v Borussia Dortmund (5.30pm)
Hertha Berlin v Eintracht Frankfurt (5.30pm)
Paderborn v Werder Bremen (5.30pm)
Wolfsburg v Freiburg (5.30pm)
Bayern Munich v Borussia Monchengladbach (8.30pm)
Sunday
Mainz v Augsburg (5.30pm)
Schalke v Bayer Leverkusen (8pm)
Mohamed bin Zayed Majlis
The biog
Favourite pet: cats. She has two: Eva and Bito
Favourite city: Cape Town, South Africa
Hobby: Running. "I like to think I’m artsy but I’m not".
Favourite move: Romantic comedies, specifically *Return to me. "*I cry every time".
Favourite spot in Abu Dhabi: Saadiyat beach
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Ruwais timeline
1971 Abu Dhabi National Oil Company established
1980 Ruwais Housing Complex built, located 10 kilometres away from industrial plants
1982 120,000 bpd capacity Ruwais refinery complex officially inaugurated by the founder of the UAE Sheikh Zayed
1984 Second phase of Ruwais Housing Complex built. Today the 7,000-unit complex houses some 24,000 people.
1985 The refinery is expanded with the commissioning of a 27,000 b/d hydro cracker complex
2009 Plans announced to build $1.2 billion fertilizer plant in Ruwais, producing urea
2010 Adnoc awards $10bn contracts for expansion of Ruwais refinery, to double capacity from 415,000 bpd
2014 Ruwais 261-outlet shopping mall opens
2014 Production starts at newly expanded Ruwais refinery, providing jet fuel and diesel and allowing the UAE to be self-sufficient for petrol supplies
2014 Etihad Rail begins transportation of sulphur from Shah and Habshan to Ruwais for export
2017 Aldar Academies to operate Adnoc’s schools including in Ruwais from September. Eight schools operate in total within the housing complex.
2018 Adnoc announces plans to invest $3.1 billion on upgrading its Ruwais refinery
2018 NMC Healthcare selected to manage operations of Ruwais Hospital
2018 Adnoc announces new downstream strategy at event in Abu Dhabi on May 13
Source: The National
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