Egypt national team coach Hossam El-Badry announced Thursday the final squad for Kenya and Comoros games in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, including a number of names who could wear the Pharaohs jersey for the very first time. The Pharaohs are scheduled to face Kenya away from home in the 5th round of Group G games on 25 March, four days before hosting Comoros in the 6th round at Cairo International Stadium. El-Badry had earlier called six foreign based players for the sqaud, but eventually named only five in the final list as Ahmed "Kouka" Hassan was dropped due to injury. Ahly's in-form defender Yasser Ibrahim and Ceramica Cleopatra's striker Ahmed Yasser Rayan are among new names called up to the national squad. Meanwhile, the squad is missing two important key players - Pyramids duo Ramadan Sobhi and Abdallah El-Saied - due to injuries. Under the guidance of El-Badry, Egypt will start their preparatory camp for the 2022 African Cup of Nations qualifiers on 20 March with the participation of the domestic players squad. Egypt, record seven-time African champions, are in the driving seat of Group G ranking with 8 points, tied with second placed Comoros, and 5 points ahead of 3rd placed Kenya, while Togo lie in the bottom with only one point. The Pharaohs were held to draws by minnows Kenya and Comoros in their opening qualifying games for the next Africa Cup of Nations last year but they returned to winning ways with the two victories over Togo in the 3rd and 4th round of the group stage respectively last November. Egypt's 28-man squad: Goalkeepers: Mohamed El-Shennawi, Mahmoud "Gennesh" Abdelrehim, Amer Amer, Mohamed Bassam. Defenders: Mohamed Hani, Omar Gaber, Ayman Ashraf, Ahmed Fatouh, Ahmed Hegazi, Mahmoud "El-Wensh" Hamdi, Ali Gabr, Ahmed Ayman, Yasser Ibrahim. Midfielders: Mohamed Elnenny, Tarek Hamed, Amr El-Solaya, Hamdi Fathi, Mohamed Farouk, Eslam Eisa, Mostafa Fathi, Mohamed "Afsha" Magdi, Mahmoud "Trezeguet" Hassan, Mohamed Salah. Forwards: Hossam Hassan, Ahmed Yasser Rayan, Mohamed Sherif, Mostafa Mohamed. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
