Egypt will be looking to wrap up preparations for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers when they meet Ghana in an exhibition game on Wednesday. After earlier beating Benin and Kenya, the Ghana game will be the Pharaohs' final friendly before meeting Rwanda in the World Cup qualifiers' Group C game on March 28th. Wednesday's game witnesses the return of Ahli's Mohamed Barakat and Borussia Dortmund striker Mohamed Zidan to the national side after months of the duo's absence. Barakat was recalled by coach Hassan Shehata for the first time in nearly a year, after the player allegedly refused to take part in the 2008 African Cup of Nations. Zidan didn't feature for his country since April 2008, after he similarly refused to join his teammates for a first phase qualifier against Malawi in June of the same year. Several Absentees Despite the boost of having Zidan and Barakat back in the team, Shehata will have to do without Mohamed Abou-Treika, Ahmed Eid and Shikabala. Abou-Treika is not fit enough, as he's yet to play for Ahli since his return from Germany and Portugal where he was being treated from a knee injury.
Agogo to play against Egypt Harras Hodoud's Eid had to drop out of the team's training camp due to his father's death, while Shikabala was overlooked by Shehata after his recent clash with Zamalek fans during the Mahalla game in the league. League Ghanaians The Ghanaians are no strangers to Egyptian football, as they enter the game with three Egyptian Premier League-based players among their ranks. Zamalek striker Junior Agogo, Harras Hodoud defender William Mensah and Masri keeper George Owu were all named among Ghana's 20-men squad. The Black Stars will also have Rennes striker Asamoah Gyan at their disposal. The player was called by Serbian coach Milovan Rajevic after managing to end a 12-month period of constant injuries. Rajevic ended his previous clashes with Hoffenheim striker Isaac Vorsah and Auxerre player Moussa Narry, and both players are ready to play against Egypt. Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien will be his country's only absentee due to a cruciate ligament damage which kept him out of the game since last September.
