Barakat ruled out of crucial clash

Barakat ruled out of crucial clash

Egypt midfielder Mohamed Barakat has been ruled out of this weekend's key Nations Cup qualifier against Burundi.

The former BBC African footballer of the year was injured during Ahly's Champions League semi-final victory over Al Ittihad on Sunday.

It is a particular blow to the player, because he had only just forced his way back into the team after an absence of a year.

Egypt play Burundi in Cairo on Saturday and then travel to Osaka in Japan for a friendly match on October 17th.

Striker Ahmed "Mido" Hossam had already been left out of the squad because of injury.

His Middlesbrough team mate Mohamed Shawky has been recalled to the squad.

Egypt, the defending champions, need only a draw against Burundi to make it to the finals in Ghana next year.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Mohamed Abdel Moncef (Zamalek), Essam Al Hadari (Ahly), Amir Taoufik (Suez Cement)

Defenders: Ahmed Al Muhammadi (ENPPI), Mahmoud Fathallah (Zamalek), Wael Gomaa (Ahly), Sayed Moawad (Ismaili), Osama Mohamed (Petrojet), Shady Mohamed (Ahly), Hani Said (Ismaili)

Midfielders: Hosni Abd Rabou (Ismaili), Mohamed Aboutrika (Ahly), Hassan Awad (Al Gaish), Gomaa Mashour (Al Gaish), Hassan Mostafa (Ahly), Abdulsalam Nagah (Harras Al Hodoud), Mohamed Shawky (Middlesbrough), Ahmed Zahran (Arab Contractors)

Strikers: Mohamed Fadl, Omar Gamal (both Ismaili), Ahmed Hassan (Ghazl Mahalla), Emad Moteab (Ahly), Amr Zaki (Zamalek), Mohamed Zidan (Hamburg)