Egypt keeper El-Shennawi doubtful for World Cup with knee injury

Ahram Online , Sunday 15 Apr 2018

Shennawy
File Photo: Zamalek Keeper Ahmed El-Shennawi (Photo: Reuters)

Egypt and Zamalek keeper Ahmed El-Shennawi is a major doubt for this summer's World Cup finals in Russia after sustaining a serious knee injury.

Early in the second half of Zamalek's 2-1 Egyptian league defeat by Alexandria's Ittihad on Thursday, the 26-year-old keeper was stretchered off following a fierce collision with an Ittihad forward.

"The injury is a tear of the medial collateral ligament of the knee. I thank Allah for everything, injuries are a test from my God," El-Shennawi wrote on his Twitter account on Sunday.

"I will undergo medical tests in Germany to determine the extent of the damage to the cruciate ligament.

"I wish Egypt the best of luck at the World Cup," El-Shennawi added in a hint that he would not probably make it to the football's most prestigious showpiece.

Should El-Shennawi miss the World Cup, 45-year-old keeper Essam El-Hadary is likely to be Egypt's first-choice keeper at the Russia finals.

Egypt manager Hector Cuper had previously called up four keepers for the friendlies against Portugal and Greece last month, with Ahly guardian Mohamed El-Shennawi and in-form Ismaily shot-stopper Mohamed Awad among the selected.

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