Egypt’s Under-17 national team claimed the Arabian Gulf Cup title in Qatar after beating the United Arab Emirates 3-1 in the final, with five young players emerging as some of the biggest attractions of the tournament ahead of the upcoming Under-17 World Cup.
Hussein Abdel Latif’s side produced an impressive campaign, winning all six of their matches to lift the trophy and demonstrate the quality within the country’s youth setup.
The tournament, staged in Qatar for the second consecutive year, featured 10 participating nations, including invited teams Egypt and China. The competition was organised in cooperation with the local committee responsible for football events, following the success of its inaugural edition in 2025.
A total of 23 matches were played across Hamad Al Kabir Stadium, Hamad Bin Khalifa Stadium and Saud Bin Abdul Rahman Stadium, with 66 goals scored throughout the competition.
Egypt began their campaign with a commanding 5-0 victory over Saudi Arabia before recording a 3-0 win against Kuwait to finish top of their group.
Their impressive form continued in the knockout stages, where they defeated Yemen 5-1, Iraq 5-0 and China 4-0 before completing their successful campaign with victory over the UAE in the final.
While the collective performance earned Egypt the championship, several individuals distinguished themselves with their contributions. Five players, in particular, attracted attention with their performances and are expected to be among the talents to watch when the team competes at the Under-17 World Cup.
Ahmed Safwat – Zamalek’s emerging playmaking talent
Ahmed Safwat was one of Egypt’s standout performers in Qatar, earning the tournament’s best player award following a series of impressive displays.
The Zamalek youngster demonstrated his technical ability and creativity throughout the competition, reinforcing his reputation as one of the promising talents emerging from the club’s youth system.
Safwat had already attracted attention before joining the national team, having featured for Zamalek’s first team during their Egypt Capital Cup fixture against ZED.
His versatility is another important quality, as he can operate as a central playmaker, a defensive forward or an attacking winger.
Zamalek are expected to continue investing in his development following his impressive performances at the Gulf Cup.
Khaled Mukhtar – The tournament’s leading scorer
Khaled Mukhtar finished the competition as its joint top scorer after finding the net five times for Egypt.
The ZED FC forward maintained an impressive scoring record throughout the tournament and added another goal in the final against the UAE, underlining his importance to Abdel Latif’s attacking options.
Despite his performances at youth level, Mukhtar has yet to make the step up to ZED’s first team, having been committed to the national team’s training camps and competitions.
His five-goal contribution in Qatar has nevertheless placed him among the most promising attacking prospects in the Egyptian youth setup.
Mohamed Gamal Attia – Egypt’s dangerous winger
Mohamed Gamal Attia was another player who made a strong impression with his performances on the wings.
The El Sharqia Enppi youngster also scored five goals, sharing the tournament’s top scorer award with teammate Khaled Mukhtar.
His pace and attacking qualities made him an important part of Egypt’s forward line, while his goalscoring contribution demonstrated his ability to influence matches in the final third.
Following his impressive displays in Qatar, Attia is considered a potential candidate for promotion to his club’s first team after the Under-17 World Cup.
Omar Abdel Rahim – Al Ahly’s midfield prospect
Omar Abdel Rahim also featured prominently in Egypt’s successful campaign, with the Al Ahly youngster attracting attention for his performances in defensive midfield.
His ability to operate in front of the defence has made him an important option for the national team, while his development has also attracted interest from outside Egypt.
The midfielder has previously been linked with Danish club Nordsjaelland, who reportedly expressed an interest in securing his services.
However, Al Ahly have remained keen to retain the services of the promising youngster as he c
