Ekramy could return to Pharaohs fold

Egypt national team goalkeeping coach Ahmed Nagy has left the door open for veteran  ‘keeper Sherif Ekramy to return to the squad.

“It is normal to call Ekramy up for the national team. He is a veteran international keeper and part of Egypt’s core squad. He played our last official match against Ghana and was one of the best players,” he said on Egyptian radio comments made Tuesday.

Ekramy was absent from the Pharaohs’ March training camp and friendlies, having lost his starting position at Ahly after a string of poor performances.

In his place, manager Héctor Cúper called-up Mohamed El-Shenawy – the player who replaced Ekramy in Ahly’s starting lineup – and Ismaily goalkeeper Mohamed Awad for their first international caps.

Their performances, especially El-Shenawy’s, received mostly positive reviews though Egypt lost friendlies to Portugal and Greece.

Experimenting with new ‘keepers may prove to be a shrewd move by Cúper, as Egypt’s regular second-choice net-minder, Ahmed El-Shenawy, recently suffered a knee injury that will see him miss the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

The injury opens the door for Ekramy’s recall should he return to form.

Egypt’s next camp will be held in May, prior to a friendly against Kuwait on the 29th.