Petrojet striker Al-Sayed Hamdi will be looking to transfer his club form to the international stage when Egypt face Rwanda in a crucial World Cup qualifier on Saturday afternoon. The 25-year-old, who scored three goals in as many league games, is expected to make his competitive debut in Kigali due to the absence of Egypt's key strikers. "I promise the fans that I will score against Rwanda," Hamdi told Egyptian newspaper Al-Ahram. "I was unlucky in the friendly game against Guinea but I'm determined to make amends." Hamdi did not find the net in the 3-3 home draw with Guinea last month, but made his presence felt by providing neat passes and crosses for his teammates. He could play as a lone striker after Amr Zaki, Mido and Mohamed Zidan were ruled out of the anticipated encounter for different reasons. Zamalek striker Zaki suffers from a hamstring injury, his teammate Mido lacks match fitness while Borussia Dortmund's Zidan was dropped for disciplinary reasons. Central defender Mahmoud Fathallah also misses out after dislocating his shoulder. There are more injury worries for Egypt coach Hassan Shehata.
Egypt crushed Rwanda 3-0 in Cairo Influential midfielders Mohamed Abou-Treika and Mohamed Barakat, who both play for Ahli, are uncertain to start the game after picking up injuries in training. "There are many absentees but I fully trust all the players who were included in the squad," Shehata commented. The Pharaohs could not afford to lose a single point as they aim to end their World Cup jinx and reach the quadrennial tournament for the first time since 1990. They lie second in Group C, level on four points with third-placed Zambia and three behind leaders Algeria with three matches remaining. Algeria host Zambia and Rwanda in relatively easy games before meeting Egypt in Cairo in their last game. Egypt, on the other hand, need to beat Rwanda and Zambia away from home to make sure their North African rivals won't extend their three-point lead before the group's final clash. Only the group winners will reach next year's South Africa finals. Egypt's probable line-up: Essam Al-Hadari, Hani Saied, Wael Gomaa, Ahmed Saied 'Ouka', Ahmed Fathi, Sayed Moawad, Mohamed Shawki, Hosni Abd-Rabou, Ahmed Hassan, Mohamed Abou-Treika, Al-Sayed Hamdi
