Zidan's exclusion from Mozambique tie, rumour

Egypt and Mainz striker Mohamed Zidan will not miss the anticipated clash with Mozambique in World Cup qualifiers on 1 June, the Pharaohs assistant coach Diaa El-Sayed revealed on Tuesday. The German Press Agency DPA said that the player was omitted from the squad for the crucial clash after Mainz's refusal to allow him to join the team recent camp in Sudan, but El-Sayed confirms the player is training hard preparing for the game. "Zidan joined our training camp on Sunday and all rumours about his omission, after a dispute with Mainz over his arrival date, are not true," El-Sayed told Egypt's state-run news agency MENA. "All the players are ready for the match and the final squad will be announced on Thursday. We are doing our best to keep the players focused especially amid the current instability over the country," he added. The 30-year-old player, Zidan, recently refused to extend his stay with Mainz after rejecting a one-year contract offer. The Pharaohs star has had an impressive start to his third stint with Mainz after rejoining them on loan from Borussia Dortmund in January, scoring seven goals to help the club avoid relegation to second division. Zidan left Bundesliga champions Dortmund in the January transfer window in search of more regular first-team football than he found with Mainz. Mainz turned down the option of extending Zidan's contract until 2014 offering only to keep his services for another year, a deal the Egyptian was not enthusiastic about. Egypt's team is currently holding a training camp in Alexandria amid preparations for the upcoming match that will be hosted by Borg Al-Arab Stadium. The seven-time African Cup of Nations (CAN) champions, under the guidance of American coach Bob Bradley, have been paired with Guinea, Zimbabwe and Mozambique in Group G. They are also scheduled to play the Central African Republic in CAN 2013 qualifiers in the same month. From/ahramonline