Egypt Olympic coach Hany Ramzy has chosen 24 players to travel to Morocco for the CAF U-23 Championship this month. The squad witnessed a couple of significant absences, apart from the exclusion of Ahli's injured duo Rami Rabiea and Mohamed Abdul-Fattah. Zamalek midfielder Ahmed Tawfik was left out despite booking a regular place in Hassan Shehata's team recently. Zamalek center-half Salah Soliman was also overlooked after being involved in a row with goalkeeper Mohamed Abou-Gabal - who was dropped as well - in the team's last gathering. Ramzy called up teenager Ahmed Hassan ‘Kuka', who suddenly left Ahli's U-20s two months ago to sign a contract with Portuguese side Rio Ave. The 19-year-old is expected to provide backup in the attack department, given that first-choice striker Marwan Mohsen in suspended for the first game.
Egypt kickoff the continental showdown - which also doubles up as the qualifiers for the 2012 London Olympics - against Gabon on November 26, before facing Ivory Coast and South Africa Egypt's Olympic squad: Goalkeepers: Ali Lotfi (ENPPI), Ahmed Al-Shennawi (Masri), Mohamed Bassam (Gaish) Defenders: Islam Ramadan (Harras Hodoud), Ali Fathi (Arab Contractors), Ahmed Hegazi, Moaz Al-Hennawi (MCDR), Saad Samir (Masri), Ahmed Sobhi (ENPPI) Midfielders: Amr Al-Sulaya (Ismaili), Mohamed Al-Nenni (Arab Contractors), Hossam Hassan (Masri), Omar Gaber (Zamalek), Ahmed Magdi (Ghazl Mahalla), Shehab Ahmed, Hesham Mohamed (Ahli), Ahmed Hamoudi (Smouha), Mohamed Sobhi, Saleh Gomaa (ENPPI), Ahmed Shokri (Bani Suef Telephones) Strikers: Mohamed Salah (Arab Contractors), Marawan Mohsen (Petrojet), Ahmed Sherweda (Masri), Ahmed Hassan ‘Kuka' (Rio Ave)
