Former West Brom centre-back Ahmed Hegazi will be absent when Egypt battle hosts Cameroon in their Africa Cup of Nations semi-final tie tonight.
The 31-year-old defender was forced off with injury in the quarter-final win over Morocco, and Egypt confirmed in a statement that he will play no further part in the tournament.
The statement read: “The x-rays conducted by Ahmed Hegazi, the national team player, showed that his injury is a rupture of the connective muscle tendons that requires treatment in a specialised centre, which means that he is unable to complete the tournament that ends on Sunday.”
There are also issues in goal for Egypt to deal with ahead of the last-four clash this evening.
First-choice goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy came off against Ivory Coast with a hamstring injury, with deputy Gabaski coming on and helping Egypt to win the penalty shootout.
But Gabaski himself picked up an injury against Morocco, as third-choice Mohamed Sobhy replaced him in extra-time.
It means El Shenawy and Gabaski are both doubts for the Cameroon match and Egypt may well have to put their faith in third-choice option Sobhy again here.
There is more certainty up front, where Mohamed Salah will once again be the key man. He scored one and assisted another against Morocco, and his country will need him to step up again if they are to get the better of hosts Cameroon.
Predicted Egypt XI: Sobhi, Kamal, Abdel Monem, Ashraf, Fattouh, El Solia, Elneny, Fathy, Marmoush, Mohamed, Salah.
