Hossam Hassan makes Egypt squad

Amr Shaheen
BBC Sport, Cairo

Hossam Hassan is the most capped African footballer

Egypt coach Hassan Shehata has named veteran striker Hossam Hassan in his 23-man squad for the African Nations Cup later this month.

Hassan, who has 165 appearances for Egypt, returned to the national side last month after a one-year absence, to make a record-equalling seventh appearance in the finals.

The 39-year-old had vowed never to represent his country again after he was called up but not used by former coach Marco Tardelli in June 2004.

But he rescinded his decision and helped the Pharaohs to lift the LG Cup on home soil last month.

"Hassan is someone you can depend on to raise the team's spirit," Shehata said, when justifying the inclusion of Africa's most capped player.

"He might not play a main role on the pitch but we need him to lead the team during the competition."

Zamalek defender Ibrahim Said, who had a stint at English club Everton, returns to the Nations Cup for the first time since 2002.

Said was expelled from the team during the Nations Cup in Mali four years ago but was recalled to the the North African side in December for the LG Cup.

Turkey-based striker Ahmed Belal is the most notable player to be excluded from the squad.

The Nations Cup hosts have been drawn in Group A to face Morocco, Libya and World Cup finalists, the Ivory Coast.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Essam Al-Hadary (Ahly), Abdul-Wahed Al-Sayed (Zamalek), Mohamed Abdul-Monsef (Zamalek)

Defenders: Ahmed Al-Sayed (Ahly), Wael Gomaa (Ahly), Mohamed Abdul-Wahab (Ahly), Ibrahim Said (Zamalek), Tarek Al-Sayed (Zamalek), Ahmed Fathi (Ismaili), Abdul-Zaher Al-Saqqa (Konyaspor, Turkey)

Midfielders: Mohamed Shawki (Ahly), Mohamed Barakat (Ahly), Mohamed Abou-Treika (Ahly), Hassan Mostafa (Ahly), Ahmed Hassan (Besiktas, Turkey), Hosni Abd-Rabou (Strasbourg, France), Ahmed Eid Abdul-Malek (Harras Al-Hodoud)

Strikers: Ahmed 'Mido' Hossam (Tottenham, England), Emad Moteab (Ahly), Osama Hosni (Ahly), Abdul-Halim Ali (Zamalek), Hossam Hassan (Masry), Amr Zaki (ENPPI)