Ahly's key duo Mohamed Sherif and Magdi Afsha were available in the preliminary squad despite being recently dropped from the team's final 24-man squad for a crucial double-header against Libya in the World Cup qualifiers this week.

Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz didn't call any of the foreign-based players in the Arab Cup squad as the tournament falls outside of the normal international calendar.

The Arab Cup comprises 23 Arab nations, including several North African and Asian heavyweights such as Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, and Saudi Arabia.

The tournament is seen as a dress rehearsal for next year's World Cup finals, which will also be hosted by Qatar.

The nine highest-ranked teams were automatically given group-stage spots. They will be joined by the seven winners of the qualifying stage. The top two in each group will advance to the quarter-finals.

Egypt's 35-man preliminary squad:

Goalkeepers: Mohamed El-Shennawy (Ahly), Mohamed Abu Gabal (Zamalek), Mohamed Bassam (Talae El-Geish), Mohamed Sobhy (Farco)

Defenders: Ahmed Fatouh (Zamalek), Mohamed Hamdy (Pyramids FC), Huessin El-Sayed (Pyramids FC), Yasser Ibrahim (Ahly), Mahmoud Alaa (Zamalek), Ahmed Hegazy (Ittihad of Jeddah), Ahmed Fathi (Pyramids FC), Mahmoud 'El-Wensh' Hamdi (Zamalek), Ayman Ashraf (Ahly), Ali Gabr (Pyramids FC), Baher Elmohamady (Ismaily), Ahmed Tawfik (Pyramids FC), Akram Tawfik (Ahly), Mohamed Hany (Ahly)

Midfielders: Hamdy Fathy (Ahly), Amr El-Sulaya (Ahly), Tarek Hamed (Zamalek), Mohanad Lasheen (Talae El-Geish), Mohamed Magdi ‘Afsha’ (Ahly), Abdallah El-Said (Pyramids FC), Mostafa Fathi (Zamalek), Ramadan Sobhi (Pyramids FC), Ibrahim Adel (Pyramids FC), Ahmed Sayed Zizo (Zamalek), Ahmed Samir (Talae El-Geish), Hussein El-Shahat (Ahly), Ahmed Refaat (Masry), Nabil 'Dunga' Emad (Pyramids FC)

Strikers: Salah Mohsen (Ahly), Hossam Hassan (Ahly), Mohamed Sherif (Ahly)

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