Reigning African footballer of the year Mohamed Salah will miss Egypt’s glamour friendly clash with Nigeria in March.
Egypt coach Javier Aguirre named 10 new faces and has dropped Salah and West Bromwich Albion’s centre-back Ahmed Hegazi from the squad for the Nations Cup qualifier against Niger and the friendly against Nigeria on March 22 and March 26 respectively.
Keepers Mahmoud ‘Genesh’ Abdel-Rehim from Zamalek, Mohamed Abo Gabal from Smouha, Amer Amer from El-Entag El-Harby have been included in the 25-man list.
Defender Ahmed Ayman Mansour from Pyramids, left-back Ahmed Aboul-Fotouh from Smouha, central midfielder Nabil Emad from Pyramids, forward Islam Gaber from Dakhleya, Abdel-Rahman Magdi from Ismaily, striker Mostafa Mohamed from Talae El-Geish and youngster Ammar Hamdi from Ittihad will get the chance to launch their international career.
Aguirre has called up the league’s top scorer and defender Mahmoud Alaa from Zamalek left-back Omar Gaber and keeper Ahmed El-Shenawy both from Pyramids and Kasimpasa left-back Karim Hafez.
Aguirre, who was named Egypt manager in August 2018, has claimed four straight wins in the African qualifiers and is tasked with winning the 2019 AFCON which will be hosted by the North African giants.