El-Hadary returns, top-form Gamal in Egypt squad for Bosnia clash

Ahmed Abd El Rasoul , Wednesday 26 Feb 2014

Veteran goalkeeper El-Hadary makes Egypt's national team return; Ahly starlet Amr Gamal to make international debut in Bosnia friendly

Egyptian goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary
Egyptian goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary (Photo: AFP)

Egypt's new national coach Shawky Gharib announced on Wednesday the Pharaohs' lineup for a warm-up game against Bosnia on 5 March in Austria.

The Bosnia friendly will mark Gharib's debut since taking over the Pharaohs. Egypt's last coach, American Bob Bradley, resigned after the team failed to reach this year’s World Cup finals in Brazil.

Gharib had previously revealed a list of six foreign-based players who would take part in the Bosnia match, before announcing the remaining 16-man squad of local players on Wednesday.

Zamalek players were not included in the squad due to prior commitments for two African Champions League matches.

The Whites will face Angola's Kabuscorp for a last-16 place. The first leg will be in Cairo on 1 March, with the return in Angola on 7 March.

El-Hadary returns, Debut of Ahly's Gamal

Veteran goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary has returned to the Egyptian team for the first time in almost a year.

The 40-year old guard played a key role in helping Egypt win three consecutive African Cup of Nations titles in 2006, 2008 and 2010, but abruptly fell out of favour after rejecting a bench role during a friendly game against Chile in February.

He has since not been called up to the national team. Former coach Bradley relied on Ahly’s Sherif Ekramy in the Pharoahs' World Cup qualifying campaign.

The Bosnia match also marks the first international for Ahly starlet Amr Gamal, who has been in the spotlight following a string of outstanding performances with Ahly since the start of the domestic league. The retirement of stars Mohamed Barakat and Mohamed Abou-Trieka as well as injuries to other key players have given Gamal a chance to shine, and he's capitalised on the opportunity.

Gharib and his coaching team have been in the stands at Egyptian league matches, watching closely for new talent.

Egypt is hoping for a new era as they prepare for the African Cup of Nations in Morocco in 2015.

Egypt's 22-man squad for the Bosnia clash:

Goalkeepers: Essam El-Hadary (Wadi Degla), Sherif Ekramy (Ahly, Ahmed El-Shenawy (Masry)

Defenders: Ali Ghazal (Nacional de Madeira - Portugal), Rami Rabiea (Ahly), Shawky El-Said (Ismaily), Ahmed Said 'Oka', Tarek Hamed (Smouha), Ahmed Fathi (Ahly), Ahmed El-Mohamady (Hull City), Mohamed Farouk (Arab Contractors), Ahmed Hamody (Smouha), Ibrahim Hassan (Ismaily)

Midfilders: Mohamed El-Neny (Basel -Switzerland)), Hossam Ghaly (Lierse – Belgium), Saleh Gomaa (Nacional de Madeira - Portugal), Ibrahim Abdel-Khalek (Smouha)

Strikers: Mohamed Nagy 'Gedo' (Ahly), Mohamed Salah (Chelsea - England), Mohamed Ragab (Petrojet), Amr Gamal (Ahly) and Khaled Kamar (Ittihad El-Shorta)

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