Five Ismaili players started for Egypt as the African champions eased to a 3-0 Nile Basin victory over Burundi in Ismailia on Tuesday.

“Wotte is proud as he believes that he put Ismaili back on the right track,” the Dervishes assistant coach Ahmed Qenawi told FilGoal.com.

“The good performance with the club prompted Egypt manager Hassan Shehata to rely on our players.”

Full-back Ahmed Samir Farag seems to have cemented his place on the left flank as Ahmed Ali is strong candidate to become first-choice striker for Shehata ahead of March’s qualifier in South Africa.

Hosni Abd-Rabou, who came on as a second-half sub against Burundi, is a key player for Egypt, but has just recently recovered from a long-term knee injury.