Captain - Ahmed Abdelhay
Ahmed Abdelhay captained Egypt to a Group 3 victory in the 2015 World League. The success was justification for a man who has stayed true to Egyptian volleyball, having rejected lucrative offers to play for other nations. He has said: "No matter what the financial privileges may be, if I was offered the chance to switch nationality a hundred times I would say no every time."
He was named Best Server of the 2013 African Championships in Tunisia, a tournament Egypt won. He was named Best Spiker of the 2011 World Cup in Japan, where Egypt were 12th. The left-handed opposite hitter was selected Most Valuable Player [MVP] and Best Server of the 2011 African Championships in Morocco. He represented Egypt at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in which his team finished the equal 11th. Abdelhay competed at the past three World Championships, where Egypt were equal 21st in 2006 and equal 13th in 2010 and equal 21st in 2014.
Star Player - Saleh Youssef
Saleh Youssef started playing volleyball at age nine at the Tersana volleyball club in Egypt. In 1999, when he was 17, Youssef moved to Al-Ahly, where he stayed only a few months before signing for their rivals Zamalek.
Youssef played with the Egypt team that won the 2005 African Championship in Cairo, Egypt, and was part of the team that won the title again in 2009 in Tetouan, Morocco. He went on to win two more African titles – in 2011 in Tangier, Morocco, and 2013 in Susah, Tunisia. Youssef played with Egypt at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, as well as at the 2006, 2010 and 2014 World Championships. He won the 2007 All Africa Games in Algiers, Algeria, and played at the 2005 Grand Champions Cup in Japan.
The 33-year-old former captain of the national team was a member of the Egypt squad that sensationally won Group 3 in the 2015 World League. Youssef is the oldest member of the Egypt squad here in Japan, so they will be looking towards him for guidance as they try to continue their good form.
