Ahmed Hegazy out of Ghana-Egypt World Cup qualifier

by Graeme Jackson

Wednesday Nov 08, 2017. 16:30

West Bromwich Albion defender Ahmed Hegazy has pulled out of the 2018 World Cup qualifier between Ghana and Egypt due to personal reasons.

The Black Stars will host the Pharaohs for their final Group E match in Kumasi on Sunday. The North Africans have already secured qualification for Russia 2018.

The Egyptian FA confirmed their experienced defender’s departure: “Ahmed Hegazi left Egypt's training camp on Tuesday for family reasons,” read a statement.

The Pharaohs are already without the injured Mohamed Abdelshafy, while star man Mohamed Salah is being rested.

Egypt will be returning to the World Cup finals for the first time since 1990, while Ghana will miss out after three successive appearances from 2006 to 2014.