The 29-year-old picked up a knock during a training session with Egypt and might not recover in time to make Sunday's game. 

"Elneny may miss the Guinea game due to injury. (Left-back) Ahmed Fattouh will be unavailable after testing positive for COVID-19," Galal told the pre-match press conference on Saturday.

Elneny, a key member of Egypt's squad who made 91 appearances with the team, played an instrumental role in the Pharaohs' run to the African Nations Cup final and a World Cup qualifying playoff earlier this year. Egypt had lost both games to Senegal on penalties. 

He joined Arsenal from Swiss side Basel in 2016 and helped the club win the Community Shield in 2017 and 2020 as well as reach the UEFA Europa League final in 2019. Elneny has recently penned a one-year contract extension with the Gunners.

Zamalek's Fattouh, who is Egypt's first-choice left-back, is the second player to be ruled out of the Guinea game due to a coronavirus infection after Ahly keeper Mohamed El-Shennawi. 

Egypt will start their Group D campaign of the qualifiers at home to Guinea on Sunday and away to Ethiopia four days later.

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