Mohammed Salah, Egypt’s superstar, has stated that his country must win the Africa Cup of Nations in 2021.

Writing in Arabic, Salah said on Instagram: “The road is not easy, but we will fight to come back with the cup. Stay behind us #EncourageEgypt”.

Salah has won nothing with his country, despite the Pharaohs winning the trophy a record seven times.

In 2017, the forward came close to lifting the trophy, but Egypt lost in the final to Cameroon.

After another disappointing performance on home soil in 2019, the Pharaohs are one of the favorites to win the Cameroon 2021 tournament.

Next week, they face Nigeria in their Group D opener, followed by Sudan and Guinea-Bissau.

This are the squad list for both teams.

Egypt’s squad for AFCON 2021
Goalkeepers:
Mohamed El-Shennawy (Al Ahly, Egypt),
Mohamed Sobhi (Pharco, Egypt),
Mohamed Abogabal (Zamalek, Egypt),
Mahmoud Gad (Enppi, Egypt).

Defenders:
Ahmed Fatouh (Zamalek, Egypt),
Mahmoud Alaa (Zamalek, Egypt),
Mahmoud Hamdy El-Wensh (Zamalek, Egypt),
Ayman Ashraf (Al Ahly),
Akram Tawfik, (Al Ahly),
Omar Kamal (Future, Egypt),
Mohamed Abdel-Moneim (Future, Egypt),
Ahmed Hegazi (Ittihad Jeddah, Saudi Arabia).

Midfielders:
Hamdi Fathi (Al Ahly, Egypt),
Amr El-Sulya (Al Ahly, Egypt),
Emam Ashour (both Zamalek, Egypt),
Ahmed Sayed Zizo (both Zamalek, Egypt), Abdallah El-Said (both Pyramids, Egypt),
Ramadan Sobhi (both Pyramids, Egypt), Mohamed Elneny (Arsenal, England),
Omar Marmoush (VfB Stuttgart, Germany),
Mohanad Lasheen (Tala’a El-Gaish, Egypt), Mahmoud Hassan Trezeguet (Aston Villa, England).

Forwards:
Mostafa Mohamed (Galatasaray, Turkey),
Mohamed Sherif (Al Ahly, Egypt),
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool, England).

Nigeria’s squad for AFCON 2021
Goalkeepers:
Francis Uzoho (AC Omonia, Cyprus),
John Noble (Enyimba FC),
Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa),
Maduka Okoye (Sparta Rotterdam, The Netherlands).

Defenders:
Chidozie Awaziem (Alanyaspor FC, Turkey),
Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain),
Leon Balogun (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland),
William Ekong (Watford FC, England),
Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy),
Jamilu Collins (SC Paderborn 07, Germany),
Abdullahi Shehu (AC Omonia, Cyprus),
Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal),
Olisa Ndah (Orlando Pirates, South Africa).

Midfielders:
Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England),
Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland),
Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England),
Chidera Ejuke (CSKA Moscow, Russia),
Kelechi Nwakali (SD Huesca, Spain).

Forwards:
Ahmed Musa (Fatih Karagumruk, Turkey),
Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain),
Victor Osimhen (Napoli FC, Italy),
Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France),
SaAiq Umar (UD Almeria, Spain),
Taiwo Awoniyi (Union Berlin, Germany),
Odion Jude Ighalo (Al-Shabab Riyadh, Saudi Arabia),
Alex Iwobi (Everton FC, England),
Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England),
Emmanuel Dennis (Watford FC, England).