Wellington Phoenix defender Tim Payne has been forced to withdraw from New Zealand’s squad to play two internationals in Egypt.
Payne was forced to leave the pitch early with an injury during the 2-1 win by the Phoenix against Sydney at Auckland’s Eden Park.
NZ Football have confirmed Payne’s injury has led to his withdrawal from Darren Bazeley’s All Whites squad.
Meanwhile, the four-nation series between New Zealand, Tunisia, Croatia and hosts Egypt has been added to FIFA’ pilot scheme to encourage matches between countries that do not normally meet in competition.
The series was first promoted as the W Cup in New Zealand but as the Winsunited Cup elsewhere, with the games set to take place in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
However, the games were moved to Egypt after the participating nations claimed a breach of contract by the tournament organisers.
The tournament is now called the ACUD International Football Cup.
READ MORE: ‘Breach of key contract clauses’ leads to change of match venues for All Whites >>>>
READ MORE: World body launches scheme to help boost lower-ranked football nations >>>>
Both New Zealand’s games will be streamed live and free by FIFA+.
Fixtures
Game to be played on Saturday March 23, 2024
Egypt v New Zealand
New Administrative Capital Stadium, Cairo, 9am (NZT)
Tunisia v Croatia
June 30 Stadium, Cairo, Egypt, kick-off 9am (NZT)
Game to be played on Tuesday March 26, 2024 (NZT)
Play-off for third place
Air Defence Stadium, Cairo, kick-off 9am (NZT)
Game to be played on Wednesday, March 27, 2024 (NZT)
Final
New Administrative Capital Stadium, Cairo, kick-off 9am (NZT)
Squads
READ MORE: New Egypt manager names his first squad for March match against All Whites >>>>
READ MORE: All Whites squad named for March internationals >>>>
Egypt squad
Goalkeepers
Mostafa Shobier
Mohamed Awad
Mohamed Abou-Gabal
El-Mahdi Soliman.
Defenders
Mohamed Hany
Mohamed Abdelmonem
Akram Tawfik
Ramy Rabia
Mohamed Hamdi
Ahmed Ramadan Beckham
Mohamed Shokri
Ahmed Hegazy
Midfielders
Marwan Ateya
Emam Ashour
Mohamed Magdy Afsha
Ahmed Nabi Kouka
Hamdy Fathi
Forwards
Mostafa Mohamed
Omar Marmoush
Mahmoud Trezeguet
Mostafa Fathi
Mohamed Sherif
Hussein El-Shahat
Ahmed Atef
Mohamed El-Shami
New Zealand
Goalkeepers
Max Crocombe (4 Caps) Burton Albion FC, England
Alex Paulsen (0 Caps) Wellington Phoenix FC, Aotearoa New Zealand
Oli Sail (9 Caps) Perth Glory FC, Australia
Defenders
Tyler Bindon (4 Caps) Reading FC, England
Michael Boxall (47 Caps) Minnesota United FC, United States
Liberato Cacace (20 Caps) Empoli FC, Italy
Dane Ingham (13 Caps) Newcastle Jets, Australia
Lukas Kelly-Heald* (0 Caps) Wellington Phoenix FC, Aotearoa New Zealand
Nando Pijnaker (18 Caps) Sligo Rovers, Republic of Ireland
Tommy Smith (51 Caps) Macarthur FC, Australia
Finn Surman (1 Caps) Wellington Phoenix FC, Aotearoa New Zealand
Midfielders
Joe Bell (18 Caps) Viking FK, Norway
Matthew Garbett (20 Caps) NAC Breda, Netherlands
Clayton Lewis (25 Caps) Macarthur FC, Australia
Callum McCowatt (17 Caps) Silkeborg IF, Denmark
Ben Old (2 Caps) Wellington Phoenix FC, Aotearoa New Zealand
Sarpreet Singh (12 Caps) FC Hansa Rostock, Germany
Marko Stamenic (19 Caps) FK Crvena zvezda, Serbia
Forwards
Kosta Barbarouses (54 Caps) Wellington Phoenix FC, Aotearoa New Zealand
Elijah Just (20 Caps) AC Horsens, Denmark
Max Mata (9 Caps) Sligo Rovers, Republic of Ireland
Ben Waine (11 Caps) Plymouth Argyle FC, England
Chris Wood (74 Caps) Nottingham Forest, England
*Debut call-up
Withdrawal
Tim Payne (34 caps), Wellington Phoenix FC, Aotearoa New Zealand (injury)
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