The Pharaohs started their second preparatory camp under the Portuguese coach on Monday with a 24-man preliminary squad.

Liverpool star winger and Egypt skipper Mohamed Salah was called up by Vitoria for Friday’s squad alongside seven other foreign-based players including Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny, Wolfsburg forward Omar Marmoush, Trabzonspor winger Mahmoud Trezeguet and Alanyaspor striker Ahmed 'Kouka' Hassan. Nantes striker Mostafa Mohamed and Ittihad Jeddah pair Tarek Hamed and Ahmed Hegazi were also among the list.

Vitoria also dropped eleven players from the preliminary squad, calling four other players from Pyramids FC after ending their continental commitment at the CAF Confederation Cup.

Under the helm of new coach Rui Vitoria, 52, Egypt started their first training camp in September as they defeated Liberia and Niger 3-0 in friendly games.

Vitoria said that the friendly game against Belgium next Friday will be very difficult, but the Pharaohs welcome the challenge.

“The Belgium friendly will be very difficult since we will be playing against the world's number two team,” Vitoria told a television programme.

“We could play a friendly game against an easier team, but we were searching for a strong challenge,” the Portuguese coach added.

“We know well what we need from the game without giving up our basics,” Vitoria said.

The game will be played in Kuwait at 16:00 Cairo Local time (GMT+2) - two days before the start of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Egypt’s final 24-man squad for Belgium game:

Goalkeepers: Mohamed El-Shennawi (Ahly), Mohamed Awad (Zamalek), Mahmoud Gad (Masry)
Defenders: Omar Gaber (Zamalek), Akram Tawfik (Ahly), Ahmed Hegazy (Ittihad Jeddah), Aly Gabr (Pyramids FC), Osama Galal (Pyramids FC), Mahmoud Alaa (Ittihad of Alexandria), Mohamed Hamdy (Pyramids FC), Huessin El-Sayed (Masry)
Midfielders: Tarek Hamed (Ittihad Jeddah), Hamdy Fathy (Ahly), Mohamed Elneny (Arsenal), Emam Ashour (Zamalek), Mahmoud Hamada (Farco FC), Mohamed Magdy Afsha (Ahly), Taher Mohamed Taher (Ahly), Ahmed Sayed Zizo (Zamalek), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Mahmoud Trezeguet (Trabzonspor)
Forwards: Ahmed Hassan Kouka (Alanyaspor), Omar Marmoush (Wolfsburg), Mostafa Mohamed (Nantes)

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