EGYPT:

Mohamed Nagy ‘Gedo’:

Despite less than convincing performances with Ahly, Egypt forward Gedo remains a force to be reckoned with. He burst onto the scene during Egypt’s triumphant African Cup of Nations campaign last January with a series of impressive displays.

Though he entered all of the tournament games as a substitute, the 26-year-old outshone the likes of Ivory Coast’s Didier Drogba and Cameroon's Samuel Eto’o to finish as the tournament’s top scorer with five goals, directly helping Egypt win its record-extending seventh continental title.

Gedo, who seems to be suffering from Ahly's recent poor performance, continues to excel with the national team. He has maintained his scoring form after finding the net in two friendly wins over the Democratic Republic of Congo and Australia.

Mohamed Abou-Treika:

The classy Ahly playmaker has been criticized by local the media for some disappointing displays at club level, but Abou-Treika remains one of Egypt’s deadliest weapons thanks to his neat, backline breaking passes.

He usually hits top form when playing for the national team, which he guided to several major titles. “I feel comfortable when I play under the guidance of (Egypt coach) Hassan Shehata,” Abou-Treika said recently.

The 32-year-old found the net in Egypt’s 6-3 friendly victory over the DR Congo in August with a delicate chip. So far this season, he scored three league goals.

QATAR:

Fabio Cesar:

The Brazilian-born midfielder became eligible to play for Qatar when he obtained the Gulf country’s citizenship in 2008, quickly becoming a regular member of their starting line-up.

His playmaking capabilities helped Qatari side Umm Salal reach the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League in 2009. Cesar moved to Al-Rayyan earlier this year and his performances earned him a place in the initial 15-man shortlist for the 2010 Asian Player of the Year award.

The 31-year-old is a dead-ball specialist, and his accurate free kicks usually trouble his opponents.

Sebastian Soria:

The naturalized Qatari striker, who was born in Uruguay, is one of the Gulf side’s most prolific marksmen. He was the only Qatar player to score during their disappointing 2007 AFC Asian Cup campaign, notching three goals in as many games despite the team’s group-stage exit.

“The last Asian Cup was good for me personally in terms of goals. But of course I want to help the team in the first place, and then also try to score my goals,” Soria said recently.

The 27-year-old was voted as Qatar’s best player in the 2005-2006 season.