Coach Hassan Shehata told reporters here that 'Mido' was discarded for a Group 2 qualifier in Mauritania on June 3 because he had lost his first team place at the English Premiership club.

Another Tottenham player, Hossam Ghaly, has been included despite a 40,000-pound fine for flinging his shirt to the ground after being substituted in a league draw with Blackburn Rovers last week.

Egypt beat Mauritania 3-0 here in March to open a three-point lead at the halfway stage of the qualifying competition for the 2008 African Nations Cup in Ghana.

Botswana have four points and Burundi and Mauritania three each with only the group winners guaranteed a place among the 16 finalists at the biennial tournament during January and February.

Hosts Egypt overcame Ivory Coast 4-2 on penalties after a 0-0 draw last year to win the African Nations Cup a record fifth time.