Egypt coach, Hector Cuper, has invited five overseas-based players for their 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Nigeria.

The Pharaohs will battle the Eagles for an automatic berth at the Gabon 2017 AFCON in Group G of the qualifiers. The first game between both sides is scheduled for Kaduna on March 25 with the reverse fixture coming up in Alexandria four days later.

According to the official website of the Egyptian Football Association, www.efa.com.eg, AS Roma’s Mohamed Salah and Arsenal’s Mohamed Elneny top the list of five players released by Cuper on Monday.

The five invited overseas-based players are expected to team up with the remaining home-based players in the Pharaohs’ camp on March 20.

Cuper’s invitation of five overseas-based players is a big contrast to Nigeria coach, Samson Siasia’s invitation of 20 overseas-based players for the double-header.

Egypt, who top Group G with maximum six points after two games, have begun preparations for the match since February while the Eagles began camping last week. Nigeria are second in the group with four points from the same number of matches.