Mohamed Salah headlines strong foreign-based Egypt squad for Afcon qualifiers

Egypt coach Javier Aguirre has called 13 foreign-based players for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Niger at home next month.

Including 13 players based abroad is a major departure by Aguirre and his Argentine predecessor Cuper from the old order that saw Egypt having just four foreign-based players in their 2010 Afcon winning squad.

Aguirre is yet to name players who turn out in the domestic league to complete his squad. The former Atletico Madrid coach has invested trust in the foreign-based contingent whose bulk played under Cuper.

Liverpool star Mohamed Salah is set to continue spearheading Egypt’s attack under new coach Javier Aguire.

The biggest talking point of the named squad is the return of Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Ali Ghazal who last featured for the Pharaohs in September 2014.

New Olympiacos forward Ahmad Hassan Koka has been given a lifeline in the team after missing out on the World Cup squad.

Mahmoud “Shikabala” Abdel Razek, Mohamed Abdel-Shafi and Abdallah Said, who were all at the World Cup, have been dropped.

Egypt Squad

Mohamed Salah (Liverpool, England), Mohamed El Neny (Arsenal, England), Sam Morsy (Wigan Athletic, England), Ramadan Sobhi (Huddersfield Town, England), Ahmed Elmohamady (Aston Villa, England), Ahmed Hegazi (West Bromwich Albion, England), Aly Ghazal (Vancouver Whitecaps, MLS/Canada), Mahmoud Hassan Trézéguet (Kasımpasa, Turkey) , Amr Warda (PAOK FC, Greece), Ahmed Mahgoub Koka (Olympiakos, Greece), Hussein El Shahat (Al Ain, UAE), Mohamed Awad (Al-Wehda, Saudi Arabia)