Egypt’s first-choice goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy is in a fitness race for Sunday’s AFCON 2021 quarterfinal derby showdown against Morocco.
El Shenawy sustained a suspected hamstring injury in the 85th minute of Egypt’s 5-4 post-match penalty victory over Cote d’Ivoire on January 26.
The Egypt Football Association (EFA) said in a statement that El Shenawy and midfielder Hamdi Fathi, who was substituted in the 84th minute of the same match, are set to undergo rehab.
“Egypt’s national team doctor Mohamed Abul-Ela confirmed that Mohamed El Shenawy is suffering from a muscle strain, while midfielder Hamdi Fathi sustained an adductor muscle injury,” the EFA stated.
“The two players will undergo medical scans to determine the rehab programme they need to recover from the injuries.”
El Shenawy’s back-up Mohamed Abou-Gabal is likely to start against Morocco on January 30 in Yaoundé should the former fail to recover in time for the match.