While he enjoyed another fine season in European football, the towering striker still has something to prove with the national team.
Kouka joined Greek giants Olympiakos from Portugal's Braga on a season-long loan last summer, scoring 15 goals in all competitions including 11 in the Greek league.
However, he has struggled to hold down a regular place in Egypt's line-up despite the lack of out-and-out marksmen in the team's roster, with many fans and pundits questioning his capabilities as a lone frontman.
He has earned 21 international caps since making his debut in 2013, scoring only five goals. He was left out of Egypt's squad for last summer's World Cup finals in Russia.
Kouka's last international goal came in a 4-0 World Cup qualifying victory over Chad in November 2015.
He will battle it out with Ahly's Marwan Mohsen and Arab Contractors' Ahmed Ali for a solitary place in coach Javier Aguirre's starting eleven.
"It will be a strong competition but all of us will do our best to make our nation proud," the 26-year-old told local sports website FilGoal.com.
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