The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) told Ismaili that Hosni Abd-Rabou will not be available for selection in the club's Confederation Cup clash against Sudan's Al-Merrikh. Ismaili and French side Strasbourg are at loggerheads over Abd-Rabou's ownership and the matter has been taken to FIFA to resolve the issue. EFA has recently asked the world governing body whether Abd-Rabou can temporarily play with Ismaili until a final decision is announced or not. FIFA's reply was ambiguous and couldn't clear up the confusion, so the EFA warned Ismaili over Abd-Rabou's participation in Sunday's encounter. "We sent FIFA another letter later to have the matter clarified but they are yet to reply," EFA general secretary Salah Hosni told FilGoal.com. "Consequently, we told Ismaili not to play him as FIFA have not confirmed that he is eligible for participation."
