Saudi-based midfielder Tarek Hamed, Ipswich Town’s Sam Morsy and Olympiacos striker Ahmed ‘Kouka’ Hassan were on Sunday named in Egypt’s squad for two friendly games against Niger and Liberia this month after a lengthy absence.
Tough-tackling midfielder Hamed, who left Cairo giants Zamalek to join Jeddah club, Ittihad in the summer, has not played any international game since featuring against Libya in a World Cup qualifier in October last year.
He used to be a regular starter but fell out of favour with former Egypt coach Carlos Queiroz, who surprisingly left him out of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) early this year.
Morsy, another defensive midfielder who plays in the third tier of English football, has not tasted any international action since October 2018. The 30-year-old, who made his Egypt debut in 2016, has seven international caps.
Olympiacos’ towering frontman Kouka, who played 27 international games, also returned to Egypt’s fold after an almost year of absence.
The trio were named among eight foreign-based players selected by Egypt’s new coach Rui Vitoria for the games against Niger and Liberia on 23 and 27 September, respectively.
Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah is expected to spearhead Egypt’s attack in both games, with the likes of Trabzonspor winger Mahmoud Trezeguet, Wolfsburg attacking midfielder Omar Marmoush and Nantes striker Mostafa Mohamed also selected.
Tarek Hamed’s Ittihad teammate Ahmed Hegazi, a regular starter in the heart of Egypt’s defence, is also named on the roster.
Egypt, who failed to reach the Qatar World Cup finals after an agonising shootout loss to Senegal in a two-legged playoff in March, will also face Belgium in a friendly in November.