African champions Egypt have named seven professionals in their squad for the opening 2010 World and African Cup qualifier set for March 29 in Cairo.

According to goal.com, the Pharaohs’ head coach Hassan Shehata shortlisted seven foreign-based players.

The list includes; Amr Zaki, Ahmed Hossam aka Mido and Mohamed Shawky, all from the English Premier League, Mohamed Zidan, Hosny Abd-Rabou and Emad Meteb along with Switzerland-based goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary.

However, Shehata left out former Tottenham Hotspur player, Hossam Ghaly.

Despite being left out of the squad, the midfielder has been playing regularly for new club Al Nasr in Saudi Arabia.

Ghaly’s Saudi-league associate Walid Soliman, who is on loan from Petrojet at Ahli Jeddah, was also snubbed.

The rest of the local based players’ squad will be announced next weekend.

The Pharaohs are drawn along with Algeria, Rwanda and Zambia in Group C of the World Cup qualifiers, which also serves as the qualifying tournament for the 2010 Africa Cup of nations in Angola.

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