Amr Shaheen BBC Sport, Cairo

Mido is one of five foreign-based players called up

Mohsen Saleh, the Egyptian national coach, has named five European-based players in a squad of 23 for two friendly matches against South Africa and Sweden.

They include the highly-talented but controversial Ahmed Mido Hossam who plays for Marseille in France.

But players from Ismaili, the Cairo club still involved in the African Champions League, have been excused from national duty.

Ismaili play Esperance of Tunisia in the second leg of their semi-final tie in Tunis on Saturday. The Egyptians won the first leg 3-1.

Saleh has also been forced to overlook players from the Olympic team to give them more time to prepare for their upcoming Athens 2004 qualifier.

The Pharaohs coach will also have to do without members of the Under-20 team who are preparing for the World Youth Championship in the United Arab Emirates at the end of the month.

Not surprisingly, ten players have been called up from league leaders Zamalek with only three from their arch-rivals Ahly.

Saleh refused to be drawn on the significance of being forced to field a weakened side against top opposition.

"They're just warm-up games. I'm not really interested in the results as much as the technical outcome," he told this website.

In the absence of veteran Hany Ramzy who is recovering from knee surgery, Hazem Emam will captain the Egyptian team.

They play South Africa on Saturday and before taking on the Swedes on Wednesday, 19 November.

Squad:

Goalkeepers:
Nader El Sayed, Essam Mahmoud, Abdel Wahed El Sayed

Defenders:
Bechir El Taby, Abdelzaher El Saka, Medhat Abdel Hady, Amr El Desoky, Wael El Kabbani, Hady Khashaba

Midfielders:
Tarel El Saied, Sayed Abdel Hafeez, Ahmed Hassan, Tarek El Sayed, Mohamed Barakat, Tamer Abdel Hamid, Hany Saied, Hazem Emam