"If we found an outstanding old player who would be a strong addition to the team, we will call him," Hany Ramzy said
New faces could join Egypt's national team in the coming period, according to assistant coach Hany Ramzy who insisted that door still open for old players, but only if they are needed.
"The technical staff monitor all players closely, whether inside or outside Egypt," Ramzy told Sada El-Balad TV channel early Sunday.
"We visit many countries to watch our players from the stands. We prepare analytical reports on locally based players and the foreign-based ones. There will be a meeting by the start of next month to select the best squad after discussing the reports.
"There will be a chance to call up new faces as we seek expanding our selection," the former Ahly star explained.
Egypt will be hosted by Niger in their final African Cup of Nations qualifier 22 March. Egypt was granted the tournament's hosting rights last month after Cameroon was stripped of those rights in December.
The Pharaohs, who have already booked a place in Africa's flagship tournament with one match to spare in their qualifying group, are second with 12 points, on level with leaders Tunisia who enjoy a better goal difference.
With Javier Aguirre at the helm, Egypt crushed Niger 6-0, defeated eSwatini 4-1 at home and 2-0 away, and dispensed with Tunisia 3-2 via a stoppage-time strike from Mohamed Salah.
Egypt's veteran goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary has recently hinted he could be returning to international football despite announcing his retirement some months ago.
The door could be open for old players like El-Hadary according to Ramzy but on specific conditions.
"If we found an outstanding old player who would be a strong addition to the team, we will call him even if he is away from our strategies," Ramzy said.
"Our main strategy is to build a team for the 2022 World Cup, so we are working on reducing the age average in our team," he concluded.
The 2019 AFCON is scheduled to take place 21 June to 13 July, having been moved from January/February to avoid club-versus-country clashes.
Egypt won the last of their record seven titles in 2010.
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