CAIRO: Egypt coach Hassan Shehata has preliminarily chosen 32 players ahead of the 2008 African Cup of Nations Cup next month.
The holders list did not include Al Ahly’s injured winger Mohamed Barakat as well as Middlesbrough striker Ahmed “Mido Hossam.
In-form striker Ahmed Belal was overlooked by Shehata, who refused to comment on the Ahly forward s omission.
Another absentee was Zamalek playmaker Mahmoud “Shikabala Abdel Razeq, who is serving a six-month suspension by FIFA.
On the other hand, surprise inclusions featured the presence of Petrojet s uncapped duo Ahmed Shaaban and Waleed Soliman, whilst there was no place for league top scorer Alaa Ibrahim.
The current squad will start a closed camp on Wednesday, and the final roster will be announced after the friendly against Namibia on Jan. 5.
Egypt Squad
Goalkeepers: Essam Al-Hadari (Al Ahly), Mohamed Abdel Monsef (Zamalek), Mohamed Sobhi (Ismaili), Wael Khalifa (Al-Gaish).
Defenders: Wael Gomaa (Al-Sayliya, Qatar), Ibrahim Saied (Ankaragucu, Turkey), Shadi Mohamed, Ahmed Fathi (Al Ahly), Sayed Moawad, Hani Saied, Sherif Abdel Fadil, Moatasem Salem (Ismaili), Mahmoud Fathallah, Tarek Al-Sayed (Zamalek), Osama Mohamed (Petrojet), Ahmed Samir (Harras Al-Hodoud).
Midfielders: Mohamed Shawky (Middlesbrough, England), Hossam Ghaly (Tottenham, England), Ahmed Hassan (Anderlecht, Belgium), Hassan Mostafa (Al-Wehda, Saudi Arabia), Mohamed Abou-Treika (Al Ahly), Hosni Abd-Rabou, Omar Gamal (Ismaili), Waleed Soliman, Ahmed Shaaban (Petrojet), Ahmed Mohamadi (Enppi), Mohsen Hendawi (Ghazl El Mahalla).
Strikers: Mohamed Zidan (Hamburg, Germany), Emad Meteb (Al Ahly), Amr Zaki (Zamalek), Mohamed Fadl (Ismaili), Ahmed Salama (Tersana).
