The Ahly midfielder is forced to miss out on his first call up for a year

The former BBC African Footballer of the Year was injured during Ahly's Champions League semi-final victory over Al Ittihad on Sunday.

It is a particular blow to the player, because he had only just forced his way back into the team after an absence of a year.

Egypt play Botswana in Cairo on Saturday and then travel to Osaka in Japan for a friendly match on October 17th.

A win or a draw will take them through to the finals.

A defeat for Egypt would open the door for either Botswana or Burundi, depending on goal difference.

Striker Ahmed "Mido" Hossam had already been left out of the squad because of injury.

His Middlesbrough team mate Mohamed Shawky has been recalled to the squad.

Egypt, the defending champions, need only a draw against Botswana to make it to the finals in Ghana next year.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Mohamed Abdel Moncef (Zamalek), Essam Al Hadari (Ahly), Amir Taoufik (Suez Cement)

Defenders: Ahmed Al Muhammadi (ENPPI), Mahmoud Fathallah (Zamalek), Wael Gomaa (Ahly), Sayed Moawad (Ismaili), Osama Mohamed (Petrojet), Shady Mohamed (Ahly), Hani Said (Ismaili)

Midfielders: Hosni Abd Rabou (Ismaili), Mohamed Aboutrika (Ahly), Hassan Awad (Al Gaish), Gomaa Mashour (Al Gaish), Hassan Mostafa (Ahly), Abdulsalam Nagah (Harras Al Hodoud), Mohamed Shawky (Middlesbrough), Ahmed Zahran (Arab Contractors)

Strikers: Mohamed Fadl, Omar Gamal (both Ismaili), Ahmed Hassan (Ghazl Mahalla), Emad Moteab (Ahly), Amr Zaki (Zamalek), Mohamed Zidan (Hamburg)