Egypt coach Hassan Shehata has recalled defender Amir Azmi to his side's squad for next month's World Cup qualifier against minnows Djibouti. Azmi, who plays for Turkish first-division side Hacettepe Spor, missed Egypt's friendly defeat against Sudan as well as the 1-0 victory over DR Congo in the last World Cup qualifier. But the former Zamalek man returned to the international fold after playing regular first-team football with Hacettepe in the Turkish Super Lig. Premiership trio Mido, Amr Zaki and Mohamed Shawky were included among the seven foreign-based players selected by Shehata for the Djibouti match. Sion goalkeeper Essam Al-Hadari, Ahli Dubai midfielder Hosni Abd-Rabou and Ittihad Jeddah striker Emad Meteb have been also named in the squad. There was no room for Dortmund's Mohamed Zidan, who is sidelined through injury. A member in Egypt's technical staff, who refused to be named, told FilGoal.com recently that Zidan will not return to Egypt's squad unless he apologizes for deliberately skipping a World Cup qualifier in June. Six-time African champions Egypt need a draw against pointless Djibouti to ensure their progress to the last phase of the 2010 World Cup qualifiers as Group 12 winners. The Pharaohs, who host Djibouti on October 12th, will most likely enjoy an easy ride against their unfancied opponents, who suffered five successive defeats in the group.
