Record Africa Cup of Nations winners Egypt on Tuesday left out Liverpool star Mohammed Salah from the squad that will face Nigeria’s Super Eagles in a pre-AFCON friendly in Asaba next month.
Egypt national team coach Javier Aguirre named a 25-man squad for the team’s upcoming engagements on Tuesday but the names of reigning African footballer of the year, Salah and West Bromwich Albion defender Ahmed Hegazi were conspicuously missing on the roster.
The Pharaohs of Egypt will face Niger in their final qualification game at the General Seyni Kountché Stadium in Niamey on March 23 before facing the Super Eagles at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba three days later.
Apart from the omission of Salah and Hegazi, Al Ahly duo Ramadan Sobhi and Marwan Mohsen were also left out by the former Mexico coach who is reported to have given rests to Salah and Hegazi after hectic clubs schedule.
Both Egypt and Nigeria have secured qualification for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations which is billed to start on June 15 in Cairo.
Egypt full squad:
Goalkeepers: Mahmoud Gennesh (Zamalek), Mahmoud Abou-Gabal (Smouha), Ahmed El-Shennawy (Pyramids), Amer Amer (Entag El-Harby)
Defenders: Omar Gaber (Pyramids), Mohamed Hany (Al Ahly), Ali Gabr (Pyramids), Mahmoud Alaa (Zamalek), Baher El-Mohamady (Ismaily), Ahmed Ayman Mansour (Pyramids), Karim Hafez (Kasimpasa), Ahmed Aboul-Fotouh (Smouha)
Midfielders: Amr El-Sulaya (Al Ahly), Mohamed Elneny (Arsenal), Tarek Hamed (Zamalek), Ali Ghazal (CD Feirense), Mohamed Nabil ‘Dunga’ (Pyramids)
Strikers: Ahmed Hassan Kouka (Olympiacos), Salah Mohsen (Al Ahly), Mostafa Mohamed (Tala’a El-Gaish)
