The future is looking bright for Egyptian football after the triumph of the Under-20 side in Ouagadougou in the Nations Cup.

Two years ago in Ethiopia, a different side of youth players won bronze and repeated the same medal performance at the World Cup in Argentina.

The generations of Under-20's could now combine to Egyptian hopes for the World Cup and Nations Cup in 2006.

Coach Hassan Shehata says this is the result of a considered development plan.

"There is a base of players - currently from Under-12 to Under-20 - which we are looking at," Shehata said.

"With this wide pool of players we will be able to strengthen the Egyptian team for future competitions.

"Already there are the products of the last championship in Argentina who are doing well."

Goalkeeper Sherif Ekramy, captain of the successful team in Burkina, said the victory would give Egypt the confidence to plan ahead.

Could Emam be paired with Mido for the 2006 World Cup?

"Many in Egypt were not expecting us to qualify from the group, so now that we are champions the attitude towards team building and youth sides will be different," he stated.

"I believe for 2006 we can have a strong team if we use most of the players from the 'Bronze team' of 2001 and some of us here in Burkina."

Egypt will host the Nations Cup in 2006 and the qualifiers of the competition will also serve as elimination for the World Cup in Germany the same year.

If Egypt also wins the bid to stage the World Cup in 2010, most of their youth players now - if maintained and able to produce consistent form - could form the backbone of the side for those finals.

Ahmed Mido of Ajax was a member of the 2001 bronze winning side and is now in contention for the African Footballer of the year award.

His successor in Ouagadougou is Ibrahim Emad who has scored five goals to become top scorer.

The pair may now go on to become one of the world's deadliest - and youngest - international strike pairings.

And that can only be good news for Pharaohs fans.