ZAMALEK youngster Hazem Emam has been drafted into Egypt’s squad for Sunday’s crunch World Cup qualifier against Rwanda in Cairo. The 20-year-old, who impressed with Zamalek in the second half of last season, comes in for versatile midfielder Ahmed Fathi who has been ruled out because of a knee injury. Ismaili defender Sherif Abdul-Fadil and Arab Contractors striker Ihab Al-Masri are also in the team. The six-time African champions have no choice but to beat Rwanda in Cairo to keep alive their slim hopes of reaching the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Egypt is not taking any chances after reports in Egypt Today that the team has been involved in a series of technical lectures from the coaching staff focusing on Rwanda’s strength and weakness as well as the positives from their Confederation Cup. Despite the huge task at hand, Egypt’s captain Ahmed Hassan believes Egypt is in no mission impossible to reach the 2010 World Cup, despite their poor qualifying start. Hassan is adamant that he and his teammates are capable of amassing maximum points from their remaining four games in Group C. “We can beat Rwanda home and away, and I think we have what it takes to win against Zambia and Algeria,” Hassan told the Egyptian media recently. Hassan urged Egypt fans to sustain their support to the national team, but stressed that they shouldn’t put pressure on players in the Rwanda tie this Sunday. “Fans have been usually supporting us and that’s what we hope to see at Cairo Stadium in the Rwanda game,” the 33-year-old added. Ends
