The Egyptian Premier League resumes today after a long period of rest, due to Egypt's participation in the African Cup of Nations (ACN). Egypt won the title for a record-breaking seventh time. Ismaili host Mansoura at Ismailia on Sunday. Ismaili, known as Dervishes, have excluded keeper Essam el-Hadari from their squad for Sunday's game after he failed to turn up for training for two successive days. The veteran guardian, who joined the Dervishes last summer, has been skipping training since helping Egypt claim an unprecedented third consecutive Nations Cup title last Sunday. He is protesting against Ismaili's refusal to negotiate two winter bids for him from Sudanese giants Merreikh. "His absence is neither excusable nor justifiable. He switched off his mobile in order not to respond to our calls," Ismaili football director Ihab Galal told FilGoal.com on Saturday. "I don't think that Egypt's coach Hassan Shehata will be satisfied with such actions from el-Hadari,” said the official. “Consequently, the club decided to leave him out of the squad facing Mansoura. If he doesn't show up for training shortly, he will also be suspended from our African game against Kenyan side Sofapaka FC (in the Champions League preliminary round)." El-Hadari was involved in a similar wrangle after winning the 2008 Nations Cup with Egypt when he snubbed the Cairo club Al-Ahly and eventually joined Swiss side Sion without their consent. He still faces possible sanctions for violating his contract with the Egyptian champions. Ismaili now lie in the third place with 28 points against ten to Mansoura. Meanwhile, Wael Gomma and Ahmed Fathi, who both shone in the ACN in Angola, will lead titleholders Al-Ahly against Ghazl el-Mahalla in Cairo on Monday. Al-Ahly, who top the local league with 35 points, are looking to win the title early, and as such are eyeing up the three points available if they win Monday's game. Al-Ahly's goalie Ahmed Adel Abdel-Moneim will be playing. The Red Devils will miss Ahmed Hassan, Mohamed Abou-Treika, Emad Mete'b and Sayyed Moawad. Ghazl El-Mahalla lie in 11th place with 18 points.
