Mohamed Latif

Mohammed Latif started playing for Egypt’s national team in 1932. His three goals against Palestine helped Egypt become the first African team to qualify for the World Cup. A right winger, he played in Egypt’s game against Hungary in the 1934 World Cup and was part of the team for the Berlin Olympics two years later.

Recommended to Glasgow Rangers by Egypt’s Scottish coach James McCrae, Latif spent the 1935-36 season in Scotland but only played two games (one League and one friendly) as Rangers finished second in the championship. He returned to Egypt to play again for his old team El-Mokhtalat SC (since 1952 Al-Zamalek SC) and, after his retirement in 1945, he coached the team and became a referee up to the international level. From the 1950s onwards Latif was a football commentator known throughout the Arab world, nicknamed “Sheikh of Commentators.” In 1956 he was one of the creators of the African Football Confederation.