The 26-year old sustained a knee injury against Burkina Faso on 9 September and has been out since then.

Head coach Hossam Hassan announced a 24-man squad for the final qualifiers that could see the Pharaohs secure their qualification, the fourth of their history.

The former Egypt iconic striker called up Pyramids FC winger Mostafa Fathy to replace him as the only change in his team.

Football director Ibrahim Hassan said, in a statement published by the Egyptian Football Association (EFA), that Emam Ashour (Ahly), Mohamed Abdelmonem (Nice), Nabil Emad 'Donga', Mohamed Shehata (Zamalek), Salah Mohsen (Masry), and Mahmoud Zalaka (Pyramids FC) have been excluded due to injuries.

Egypt, who top Group A with 20 points, five ahead of second-placed Burkina Faso, will travel to Morocco to face Djibouti on 8 October before hosting Guinea-Bissau at Cairo International Stadium on 12 October.

The Pharaohs need just one point from their remaining two matches to confirm qualification for the 2026 World Cup finals.

Egypt 24-man squad

Goalkeepers: Mohamed El Shenawy (Ahly), Mostafa Shobeir (Ahly), Mohamed Sobhy (Zamalek), Abdelaziz El-Balouti (NBE Club).

Defenders: Rami Rabia (Al-Ain - UAE), Yasser Ibrahim (Ahly) Mohamed Hany (Ahly), Khaled Sobhi (Masry), Amr El Gazar (NBE Club), Hossam Abdelmaguid (Zamalek), Ahmed Eid (Masry), Mohamed Hamdy (Pyramids FC), Ahmed Nabil Koka (Ahly).

Midfielders: Hamdy Fathy (Al Wakrah - Qatar), Mostafa Fathy (Pyramids FC), Marwan Attia (Ahly), Mahmoud Saber (Zed FC), Mohanad Lasheen (Pyramids FC), Ahmed ‘Zizo’ Sayed (Ahly), Mahmoud Trezeguet (Ahly), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool - England), Ibrahim Adel (Al Jazeera - UAE).

Strikers: Mostafa Mohamed (Nantes - France), Osama Faisal (NBE Club)

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

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