Zamalek playmaker Mahmoud 'Shikabala' Abdel-Razeq has been excluded from the team's African squad, the club announced on Thursday.

Under the helm of coach Helmy Toulan, Zamalek have announced the 23-man African squad that will take part in the African Champions League kick off next February.

Early last December Egypt winger Shikabala had unilaterally terminated his contract with Zamalek, claiming the club owes him money.

The 27-year-old player went AWOL a month ago and on Thursday he notified the board that he had terminated the contract.

His agent Samir Abdel-Tawwab told Ahram Sports that Zamalek owes his client LE1.8 million (roughly $257 000) and that they have been stalling for several weeks.

Last summer, Zamalek had to let go of several key players like Ibrahim Salah, Ahmed El-Shennawy, Sabri Rahil, Abdoulaye Cisse and Alex Mendomo for lack of funds.

Zamalek's Africa squad will also lose the services of forward Ahmed Eid Abdel-Malek during the coming African campaign after offloading him to join Libyan side Ahly Benghazi on a six-month loan deal.

The Whites' squad witnessed the registration of new signing former Ismaily star Omar Gamal who joined Zamalek this winter.

The Cairo giants announced they were to face Niger's AS Douanes in the CAF Champions League round of 64 on 9 February.

Zamalek 23-man African squad:

Goalkeepers: Abdel-Wahed El-Sayed, Mahmoud Gennesh, Mohamed Abou Gabal

Defenders: Yasser Ibrahim, Hamad Toulba, Mahmoud Fathallah, Salah Soliman, Omar Gaber, Hazem Emam, Ahmed Samir, Mohamed Abdel-Shafy

Midfielders: Nour El-Sayed, Ahmed Tawfiq, Said Mohamed Otta, Mohamed Ibrahim, Moustafa Fathi, Islam Awad, Hani Said

Strikers: Arafa El-Sayed, Mo'men Zakaria, Omar Gamal, Ahmed Gaafar and Ahmed Ali

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