Egypt midfielder Hosni Abd-Rabou is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines after tearing the cruciate ligament in his right knee during a Saudi league game on Thursday.

The 28-year-old, a key member of Egypt's squad, suffered the injury while playing for Al-Nasr against Jeddah-based club Ahli.

"Thanks God for everything. I hope his fans will pray for him to quickly recover from the injury," said Tarek Abd-Rabou, the player's brother.

The news will come as a blow to Egypt coach Bob Bradley as he seeks to end the country's 24-year wait for a World Cup appearance.

Abd-Rabou, who suffered a similar injury in 2010, has scored 16 goals in 96 international appearances since making his Egypt debut in a World Cup qualifier against Sudan in 2004.

The central midfielder, who is on loan at Al-Nasr from Ismaily, won with Egypt two African Nations Cup titles and was named as the tournament's best player in 2008.

Abd-Rabou, a dead-ball specialist, opened the scoring for Egypt via a curling free-kick in their 2-1 victory over Zimbabwe in last month's World Cup qualifier, which maintained the Pharaohs' winning start in their qualifying campaign.

Egypt have maximum nine points from three games, five points ahead of Guinea and seven clear of third-placed Mozambique with three matches remaining.

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