Egypt's national football team will not be able to count on Ahmed El-Shenawy, the usual substitute goalkeeper for the "Pharaohs", in the Russia World Cup.
The 26-year-old goalkeeper suffered a serious injury to his left knee last Thursday in a match for his team, Zamalek Cairo, announced the medical services of the national team.
El-Shenawy is the substitute goalkeeper for Egypt, where veteran Essam El-Hadary is the undisputed starter even though he turned 45 in January.
Egypt qualified for a World Cup 28 years later and will be led in Russia 2018 - from June 14 to July 15 - by Liverpool's star Mohamed Salah.
The African team will face Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Uruguay in Group A of the World Cup.