Egypt have called up three Turkey-based players for next week’s friendly against Turkish champions Galatasaray in Cairo.

Coach Mohsen Salah has recalled Ahmed Hassan who is joined by his Genclerbirligi team mate Abdelzaher El Saqqa and the Malatayspor midfielder Ayman Abdelaziz. The match is one of a series as Egypt prepare for an African Nations Cup qualifier in Mauritius in March.

The match has become more important after the Egyptians’ surprise defeat in their opening qualifier against Madagascar. Egypt will also be playing full internationals against Denmark, Kuwait and Qatar in the next two months.

They played four matches in November and December, winning one and drawing the others.

Egypt have appeared a record 17 times in the Nations Cup finals and the 2004 series will be held in Tunisia.

Egypt’s squad:
By Keir Radnedge