The 30-year-old left boyhood club Ahli to join Egyptian league strugglers Smouha last summer; a switch that suggested he might be going backwards in his career.

However, the goals came with Smouha after years of frustration on the Ahli bench, prompting Egypt coach Hassan Shehata to recall the clinical finisher for the Nile Basin tournament.

“My return to the national team sent me back on track after I lost a lot of self-esteem following the departure from Ahli,” he told CNN.

“Some people considered my move to Smouha as the beginning of my end and to be honest, I almost gave up and considered quitting football.

“My transfer to Smouha was risky. Either success or total failure, and I think I proved myself by returning to the national team.”

Belal scored three times in Egypt’s Nile Basin triumph, with all his goals coming in one game against Kenya in the 5-1 drubbing.