EGYPT's football squad flew to Sudan for a one-week training camp in which they will play two friendly matches this week. Inas Mazhar reports. According to Samir Adli, the Pharaohs' team manager, Egypt will play against Chad and Uganda. "First, we'll take on Chad on 29 March and then Uganda on 31 March. We return the following day. "With the league suspended, there is a problem in the team's preparations. But we appreciate the football federation allowing us the chance to hold training camps and play friendly matches as part of our preparations and to warm up for official matches which will start in June," added Adli. The training camp and friendly tournament comes as part of Egypt's preparations for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifications. The finals are scheduled for next January and the winner will represent the continent at the 2013 Confederations Cup which will be held in Brazil before the World Cup finals the following year in 2014. Head coach of the Egypt team Bob Bradley announced his 27-man squad which will take part in the training camp and friendlies as well. The list shows the return of Ahli, Zamalek and Enppi players after finishing their engagements in African club competitions. Ahli players also return to the squad for the first time after missing two previous training camps because of the Port Said disaster in which 74 fans were killed in a league soccer riot on February 1. Most of those killed were Ahli supporters. The world's most capped player and the team's captain, Zamalek midfielder Ahmed Hassan will miss the training camp and therefore the opportunity to increase his international caps. Though Ahli's Hossam Ashour was called, an injury will prevent him from participation while controversial striker Amr Zaki returns to the squad after a long absence. Bradley coordinated with the Under-23 national team, under the helm of coach Hani Ramzi, which is preparing for the 2012 London Olympics before landing key players like keeper Ahmed El-Shennawi and defender Ahmed Hegazi. The squad Goalkeepers: Essam El-Hadari (Ittihad of Alexandria); and Ahmed El-Shennawi (Masri) Defenders: Ahmed Hegazi (Ismaili); Moatasem Salem (Ismaili); Mahmoud Fathallah (Zamalek); Mohamed Naguib (Ahli); Ahmed Said Okka (Ismaili); Ahmed Dwidar (Ittihad El-Shorta); Ali Fathi (Arab Contractors); and Mohamed Nasef (ENPPI) Midfielders: Mohamed Abdel-Shafi (Zamalek); Ibrahim Salah (Zamalek); Mahmoud Abdel-Razek 'Shikabala' (Zamalek); Hossam Ghali (Ahli); Ahmed Fathi (Ahli); Hossam Ashour (Ahli); Mohamed Abu-Trieka (Ahli); Walid Soliman (Ahli); Salah Ashour (Ittihad El-Shorta); Ahmed Khairi (Ismaili); Mohamed El-Nenni (Arab Contractors); Mohamed Salah (Arab Contractors); and Bassem Ali (Ismaili) Strikers: Amr Zaki (Zamalek); Ahmed Hassan Mekki (Haras El-Hodoud); Ashour El-Taqi (Wadi Degla); and Ahmed Abdel-Zaher (ENPPI) Meanwhile, the venues of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa will be announced 1 April. According to the South Africa Football Association, (SAFA), the match venues will be made public during a visit by Confederation of African Football CAF officials. Representatives from eight bidding venues were presenting their cases to SAFA on Monday. South Africa can use seven stadiums for the 16-team event in January and February next year, the most ever at a Cup of Nations. Organisers say those built for the 2010 World Cup will be preferred. Soweto's 90,000-plus FNB Stadium, which hosted the World Cup final when it was known as Soccer City, will likely be the tournament's centre point. South Africa took over the 2013 Africa Cup from troubled Libya. Libya will host in 2017.
