Ahli veteran Wael Gomaa says he played no part in the Champions League win at Kenya's Tusker so that he can be fit for Egypt's World Cup qualifier against Zimbabwe this month. Gomaa was uncommonly left out of Ahli's line-up for the second game in a row, but the defense stalwart was quick to certify that his absence is all planned. “I didn't play recently because I've been regularly featuring in almost all matches recently and I felt exhausted," the 37-year-old told FilGoal.com. “I need to be fit for the Zimbabwe game and so I was rested again in the Tusker game in agreement with coach Hossam Al-Badri and Egypt boss Bob Bradley." Gomaa has arguably been Egypt's top defender during the past decade, having been a consistent member of the backline of his club and country. Egypt take on Zimbabwe on March 26, with Gomaa, Mahmoud Fathallah, Mohamed Naguib, Adam El-Abd and Ahmed Saied ‘Ouka' the central defenders on board.
