Egypt trim squad for Spain friendly

CAIRO, May 30: African champions Egypt have settled on a 21-man squad for their friendly against World Cup-bound Spain in Elche on Sunday, dropping five players from a preliminary list named by coach Hassen Shehata.

Among those omitted was Dutch-based goalkeeper Sherif Ekrami, who made his debut for Feyenoord at the end of last season.

French-based midfielder Hosni Abd Rabou, left out of the African Nations Cup squad because of injury, returns.

Two uncapped players were named, goalkeeper Mostafa Kamel and Ahmed Al Muhammadi from Ghazl Mahalla.

The match against Spain is the first for Egypt since they won the Nations Cup in Cairo in February.

Tottenham Hotspur striker Mido was not included after being suspended for six months by the Egyptian Football Association for insulting his coach during the Nations Cup.

Spain's World Cup group includes Saudi Arabia and Tunisia.

Egypt squad: Goalkeepers: Mohamed Abou Moncef (Zamalek), Essam Al Hadari (Al Ahli), Mostafa Kamal (ENPPI) Defenders: Mohamed Abdelwahab (Al Ahli), Ahmed Abou Mosalem (Racing Strasbourg, France), Emad Al Nahhas (Al Ahli), Abdelzaher El Saqqa (Konyaspor, Turkey), Ahmed Fathi (Ismaili), Wael Gomaa (Al Ahli) Midfielders: Hosni Abd Rabou (Racing Strasbourg, France), Mohamed Aboutrika (Al Ahli), Ahmed Al Muhammadi (Ghazl Mahalla), Mohamed Barakat (Al Ahli), Ahmed Hassan (Anderlecht, Belgium), Hassan Mostafa (Al Ahli), El Moataz Bellah Mohamed Salama (Zamalek) Strikers: Abdelhalim Ali (Zamalek), Ahmed Eid Abdelmalek (Harras Al Hodoud), Mostafa Gaafar, Gamal Hamza(both Zamalek), Emad Moteab (Al Ahli).

Reuters