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          Mohamed Salah, Mohamed Elneny make Egypt's 29-man World Cup squad

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          • ESPN staffMay 14, 2018, 01:13 AM

          Mohamed Salah headlines Egypt's 29-man preliminary World Cup squad ahead of their friendlies against Kuwait and Belgium.

          The Premier League Golden Boot winner, however, will miss the Pharaoh's match against Kuwait on May 26 as he is participating in Liverpool's Champions League final showdown with Real Madrid in Kiev on the same day.

          Egypt boss Hector Cuper has also included Major League Soccer's Amro Tarek and Omar Gaber in his squad, while Arsenal's Mohamed Elneny has also received a call-up despite his ongoing battle with an ankle injury.

          Essam el-Hadary could be on his way to becoming the oldest person to play in a World Cup match after the 45-year-old goalkeeper was chosen. Colombia goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon was 43 when he played at the last World Cup in Brazil.

          Besides Salah and Elneny, five more England-based players were chosen: West Bromwich Albion defenders Ahmed Hegazy and Ali Gabr, Stoke winger Ramadan Sobhy, Aston Villa defender Ahmed Elmohamady and Wigan midfielder Sam Morsy.

          Cuper gave first-time call-ups to Tarek, defender Mahmdoud Hamdy, midfielder Mahmoud Abdel-Aziz, and forward Ahmed Gomaa. Hossam Ashour, Moamen Zakaria, Mohammed Magdy and Hussein el-Shahat were all left out.

          Egypt qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1990. The team will play in Group A along with hosts Russia, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay. A final 23-member squad must be submitted to FIFA by early June.

          Goalkeepers: Essam El-Hadary (Al Taawoun), Mohamed El-Shennawy (Al Ahly), Sherif Ekramy (Al Ahly), Mohamed Awad (Ismaily)

          Defenders: Ahmed Fathi (Al Ahly), Saad Samir (Al Ahly), Ayman Ashraf (Al Ahly), Mahmoud Hamdy (Zamalek), Mohamed Abdel-Shafy (Al Fath) Ahmed Hegazi (West Brom), Ali Gabr (West Brom), Ahmed Elmohamady (Aston Villa), Karim Hafez (RC Lens), Omar Gaber (LAFC), Amro Tarek (Orlando City)

          Midfielders: Tarek Hamed (Zamalek), Mahmoud Abdel Aziz (Zamalek), Shikabala (Al Raed), Abdallah Said (KuPS), Sam Morsy (Wigan), Mohamed Elneny (Arsenal), Kahraba (Ittihad), Ramadan Sobhi (Stoke City), Mahmoud "Trezeguet" Hassan (Kasimpasa), Amr Warda (Atromitos)

          Forwards: Marwan Mohsen (Al Ahly), Ahmed Gomaa (Al Masry) Ahmed "Koka" Mahgoub (SC Braga), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)

          Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.