The preliminary Egyptian squad for this summer's African Cup of Nations was announced on Tuesday.
Ahly's playmaker Walid Soliman, who announced his international retirement months ago, was the prominent name on the squad, alongside Pyramids FC's midfielder Abdallah El-Said, who hasn’t been on the national team since the appointment of Mexican tactician Javier Aguirre.
Despite their absence from recent selections, Egyptian league top-scorer Ahmed Aly and Smouha's left-back Ahmed Aboul Abou-Elfotouh were among those selected, while Ahly and Zamalek wingers Ramadan Sobhi and Mahmoud Kahraba were the prominent absentees.
The 25-man squad is due to start a preparatory camp on 6 June to play two friendly matches; the first against Tanzania on 13 June, and the second against Guinea three days later at Alexandria's Borg El-Arab Stadium.
Egypt will host the Nations Cup, which has been expanded to 24 teams, from 21 June to 19 July.
The record seven-time African champions will play in Group A along with DR Congo, Uganda and Zimbabwe. Egypt will kick off the tournament by playing Zimbabwe on 21 June.
"We called up two extra players in case we could face any injures in the coming period. The final 23-man squad will be submitted on 11 June," Egypt's assistant coach Hany Ramzy said early on Tuesday.
With Aguirre at the helm, the Egyptians are seeking to win the prestigious title for the first time since 2010, the last of their record seven victories.
Egypt reached the final of the 2017 edition, only to lose 2-1 to Cameroon. `
Egypt's preliminary squad:
Goalkeepers: Ahemd El-Shennawi (Pyramids FC), Mohamed El-Shenawy (Ahly), Mahmoud Genish (Zamalek), Mohamed Abou-Gabal (Smouha)
Defenders: Ahmed Elmohamady (Aston Villa), Ahmed Hegazi (West Bromwich Albion), Omar Gaber (Pyramids FC), Ali Ghazal (Feirense), Ayman Ahsraf (Ahly), Mahmoud Hamdy (Zamalek), Baher Elmohamady (Ismaily), Ahmed Ayman Mansour (Pyramids FC), Mahmoud Alaa (Zamalek), Ahmed Aboul fotouh (Smouha)
Midfielders: Walid Soliman (Ahly), Abdallah El-Said (Pyramids FC), Mohamed Elneny (Arsenal), Tarek Hamed (Zamalek), Mahmoud “Trezeguet” Hassan (Kasimpasa), Amr Warda (Atromitos), Nabil Emad (Pyramids FC)
Forwards: Ahmed Aly (Arab Contractors), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Marwan Mohsen (Ahly), Ahmed "Kouka" Hassan (Olympiacos)
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