CAIRO: Egypt boss Hassan Shehata has named 23 players for the crucial World Cup qualifier against Rwanda next month.
Ahly midfielder Mohamed Barakat made the list for the first time since March s home draw with Zambia, whereas Amr Zaki was not included yet again.
Zaki has been struggling with a hamstring injury, even though Zamalek said on Tuesday that he is set to return to full training this week.
Zamalek duo Ahmed “Mido Hossam and Mahmoud “Shikabala Abdel-Razeq were not included by Shehata, Mohamed Zidan is banned by the Football Association, while Emad Meteb is ruled out with injury.
The selection witnessed a few surprises as Petrojet s Mohamed Shaaban, Lierse s Mohamed Al-Gabbas and Mansoura guardian Mahmoud Aboul-Saoud earned their first call-ups.
Aboul-Saoud, along with Ittihad s Al-Hani Soliman joined first-choice keeper Essam Al-Hadari as the unfit Abdel-Wahed Al-Sayed was omitted.
Egypt Squad:
Goalkeepers: Essam Al-Hadari(Ismaili), Al-Hani Soliman (Ittihad), Mahmoud Aboul-Saoud (Mansoura).
Defenders: Hani Saied, Mahmoud Fathallah (Zamalek), Wael Gomaa, Ahmed Fathi, Sayed Moawad (Ahly), Ahmed Al-Muhammadi (ENPPI), Ahmed Saied Ouka , Ahmed Kamal (Harras Hodoud)
Midfielders: Mohamed Abou-Trika, Mohamed Barakat, Ahmed Hassan (Ahly), Abdel-Aziz Tawfik (ENPPI), Ahmed Eid (Harras Hodoud), Hosni Abd-Rabou (Ahly Dubai), Mohamed Shawky (Middlesbrough)
Strikers: Al-Sayed Hamdi (Petrojet), Ahmed Raouf (ENPPI), Ahmed Salama (Harras Hodoud), Mohamed Al-Gabbas (Lierse)
