Egypt have given first call-ups to four players, including Zamalek winger Ahmed Sayed, for two African Cup of Nations qualifying games against Kenya and Comoros next month. Sayed, known as Zizo, was named in a preliminary 32-man squad announced by coach Hossam El-Badry on Sunday after producing some fine displays with Cairo giants Zamalek, scoring two goals and creating two others in the opening four Egyptian Premier League matches. Ahly's stand-in left-back Mahmoud Wahid was also included, as was Pyramids winger Islam Eissa although he is struggling for regular football after joining the big-spending club from Masry in the close season. Wadi Degla forward Marwan Hamdi also made the cut for the first time, although it remains to be seen whether any of the new quartet would be named in the final roster. There were no major surprises in the preliminary squad, with Liverpool star Mohamed Salah spearheading an attack that also features Sporting Braga striker Ahmed Kouka. Veteran 34-year-old playmaker Abdallah El-Said, who some critics suggested might not be able to retain his place in Egypt squad because of his age, was named in the squad after defying his detractors with a series of dazzling displays with Pyramids. Winger Mahmoud Kahraba, who looks set to join Ahly from Portuguese side Aves in January, was recalled after he was overlooked for the Nations Cup campaign on home soil earlier this year. Egypt kick off Group G of the Nations Cup qualifiers at home to Kenya on 14 November before meeting Comoros away from home four days later. The top two in the group will qualify for the 2021 Nations Cup in Cameroon. Egypt's preliminary squad: Goalkeepers: Mohamed El-Shennawi (Ahly), Mohamed Awad (Zamalek), Mohamed Bassam (Talae El-Geish) Defenders: Ahmed Fathi, Mohamed Hani, Mahmoud Wahid, Rami Rabia, Ayman Ashraf (Ahly), Ragab Bakkar, Mohamed Hamdi (Pyramids), Abdallah Gomaa, Mahmoud Alaa (Zamalek), Baher El-Mohammadi (Ismaily), Ahmed Hegazi (West Bromwich) Midfielders: Amr El-Sulaya, Hamdi Fathi, Magdi Afsha, Hussein El-Shahat (Ahly), Tarek Hamed, Ahmed Sayed (Zamalek), Omar Gaber, Abdallah El-Said, Islam Eissa, Mohamed Farouk (Pyramids), Mohamed Elneny (Besiktas), Mahmoud Trezeguet (Aston Villa), Mahmoud Kahraba (Aves) Strikers: Marwan Hamdi (Wadi Degla), Ahmed Gomaa (Masry), Hossam Hassan (Smouha), Ahmed Kouka (Sporting Braga), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
