CAIRO: Wigan Athletic striker Ahmed “Mido Hossam was not included in the 28-man squad named by Egypt coach Hassan Shehata for the Oman friendly and the Algeria World Cup qualifier.

The Egyptian Football Association s official website announced the names of the players, who will play against Oman, Algeria and Rwanda in the World Cup qualifications.

Excluding Mido comes as Shehata s biggest surprises, especially in the absence of Emad Meteb due to injury.

Zamalek youngster Hazem Emam received his first ever Egypt call-up after impressing for his club during the league s second term.

Similarly, Arab Contractors striker Ihab Al-Masri was included in the squad, which will be trimmed to 23 men before the Algeria trip.

The Egypt squad will convene on May 25, before heading to Oman for a one-week training camp and a friendly game with the country s national side on May 30.

The same squad will be representing The Pharaohs in the FIFA Confederations Cup which will start on June 14 in South Africa.

Shehata s men will afterwards meet with Rwanda on July 1 in another qualifier.