Egypt's first-choice defender Hegazy fit for Tunisia friendly

Mahmoud Elassal , Saturday 7 Jan 2017,

Egypt's Ahmed Hegazi (R) controls the ball during a 2014 World Cup qualifying football match against Zimbabwe on June 9, 2013 at the National Sports Stadium in Harare. Egypt won 4-2 (Photo: AFP)

Egypt and Ahly defender Ahmed Hegazy has been declared fit for Sunday's friendly against Tunisia in the Pharaohs' only warm-up game for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon.

"Hegazy finished his rehab program and he is training well with the team," Egypt director Ihab Leheta was quoted as saying by Ahram Sports.

The towering defender has been suffering from hamstring injury that ruled him out of Ahly's 2-0 Cairo derby victory over Zamalek in the Egyptian Premier League last month.

Hegazy spent two weeks on the sidelines and was due to take part in the derby but Ahly opted not to take any risks over his fitness.

"Egypt coach Hector Cuper is the only one to decide on Hegazy's fitness but he is fit to play," Leheta added.

Egypt host Tunisia in a friendly at Cairo's International Stadium on Sunday, five days before they fly to Gabon to make their first Nations Cup appearance since winning the last of their record seven titles in 2010.

They will face Ghana, Mali and Uganda in Group D of the tournament, which will be played in Gabon from 14 January to 5 February.

Egypt's North African Arab neighbors Tunisia were drawn in Group B alongside Algeria, Zimbabwe and Senegal.

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