by osamahlawy Fri Dec 25, 2009 2:20 am
Battle Looms Over Aboutreika
A battle is looming between Egypt coach Hassan Shehata and Al Ahly over the fitness of star midfielder Mohamed Aboutreika, with the club insisting the player is injured and cannot take part in the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations.
Shehata does not appear to want to take their word for it though and has himself insisted that the player report for national team duty, where his fitness will be assessed.
The 31-year-old has a foot injury that lead Ahly to rule him out of action for six weeks, but Shehata is eager to see if the talismanic player can play some part in the tournament in Angola as Egypt seek to defend the title they have won on the last two occasions.
"We will send Aboutreika's medical report to the FA, explaining that he has a metatarsal stress fracture," Ahly sporting director Hadi Khashaba told the club's official site. "He will be fit after 40 days and thus shouldn’t play in the Nations Cup."
But according to reports in Egypt, Shehata will include Aboutreika in his squad even if he is injured, due to the influence on the team.
Egypt are already missing three big-name stars who have not been included due to injury, namely striker Amr Zaki, and midfielders Mohamed Barakat and Mohamed Shawky.