Egypt team has started their preparation camp on Saturday for Uganda friendly game that will be played on 14 August in Cairo.

The 18-player squad will meet Saturday night and hold a single training session before starting their full trainings Sunday.

Egypt coach Bob Bradley had initially called up a 26-player squad, including all his stars, but Ahly and Zamalek players couldn't come because of crucial encounters next weekend in the African Champions League Group stage.

Both teams have just one point after two rounds and need to win their upcoming games to revive their hopes.

However Ahly's keeper Mossad Awad, who is not eligible to play in Africa, and suspended midfielders Hossam Ashour, Ahmed Fathi and Zamalek's defender Mahmoud Fathallah have joined the Pharaohs camp.

Bradley made a late call for Egypt youth winger Ahmed Rifaat and Al-Dhofar (Oman) forward Ahmed Temsah for the game.

The seven-time African champions hope to boost their FIFA ranking that stands now at the 62nd position.

Egypt secured a place in the World Cup qualifiers play-off after ensuring they would finish on top of Group G with one game to spare.

The holders of three successive African Cup of Nations Cups, 2006 and 2008 and 2010, Egypt will host Guinea in the final round of the qualifiers in September.

The African draw for the final round, featuring the 10 group winners, will be made on 16 September in Cairo.

The 18-man squad:

Goalkeepers: Mohamed Sobhy (Ismaily) and Mosaad Awad (Ahly)

Defenders: Ahmed Fathi (Ahly), Mahmoud Fathallah (Zamalek), Ahmed Samir (Dakhlya), Adam El-Abd (Brighton, England), Ahmed Elmohamady (Hull City, England), Ahmed Samir Farag (Lierse, Belgium) and Ahmed Hegazy (Fiorentina, Italy)

Midfielders: Hossam Ashour (Ahly), Amr Soulaya (Ismaily), Hossam Ghaly (Lierse, Belgium), Ahmed Hamoudy (Smouha), Mohamed El-Nenny (Basel FC, Switzerland), Ahmed Rifaat (Enppi)

Strikers: Mohamed Salah (Basel FC, Switzerland) and Ahmed Hassan 'Koka' (Rio Ave, Portugal), Ahmed Temsah (Al-Dhofar, Oman)