The Egyptian National team are heading to Chad Thursday to play their first match in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.

The Pharaohs will open their qualifying campaign against Chad away from home on 14 November before hosting the African minnows three days later in the second leg.

Egypt's crew of 42 members, including 24 players, headed by the Egyptian Football Association boss Gamal Allam will arrive tonight to Chad as they will start their only training session on Friday before the game.

The winners of the double-legged second-round qualifiers will directly qualify for five four-team groups, whose winners make it to the World Cup in Russia.

The squad witnessed the absence of key players due to injuries: Roma forward Mohamed Salah, Zamalek winger Hazem Emam, Ahly's defender Rami Rabia and left-back Mohamed Abdel-Shafi who plays for Saudi club Ahli Jeddah.

Egypt squad

Goalkeepers: Ahmed El-Shennawi, Sherif Ekramy, El-Mahdi Soliman

Defenders: Ahmed Tawfik, Omar Gaber, Ahmed Hegazy, Saad Samir, Mohamed Naguib, Ahmed Dwidar, Sabri Rahil, Ayman Ashraf

Midfielders: Hossam Ghaly, Tarek Hamed, Ibrahim Salah, Mohamed Elneny, Abdallah El-Saied, Moemen Zakareya, Amr Warda

Forwards: Mostafa Fathi, Mahmoud Kahraba, Ahmed Hassan 'Koka', Bassem Morsi, Ahmed Hassan Mekki, Amr Gamal

(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)