He's recruited Arab youths from two nearby villages to join Israel's national junior team, drawing players from the town of Al Ghajar, half of which sits in Israel, the other in Lebanon.

WSJ: Hockey Heats Up in Tiny Village With Israel's Only Big Rink

Kalou rejected several invitations to join the Ivory Coast national squad last year, even though his brother Bonaventure is captain of the team.

BBC: Ivorian Salomon Kalou

"Mido is only going to join the senior team in the Nations Cup, " Hany Abu Reda, the manager of all Egyptian national teams, confirmed to the BBC Sport website.

BBC: SPORT | Football | African | Mido to miss UAE trip