Egypt assistant manager Osama Nabih lauded the 'tactically intelligent' Shikabala after the midfield wizard scored in his side's 1-1 World Cup qualifying draw against Ghana at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium on Sunday.
Playing his first Egypt game for the first time in three years, an in-form Shikabala put in an impressive display which was capped by a superb second-half goal that put the already-qualified Pharaohs in front.
"Shikabala is tactically intelligent. He fulfilled most of the duties that we've assigned him in the game," Nabih told ON Sport TV channel.
"The players were under pressure to prove themselves to the Egyptian fans and not to the management; because they know well that we're convinced they are good players.
"We rested Mohamed Salah, Ahmed Hegazi and Mohamed Abdul-Shafi to give other players the chance. Due to the injury of other players they could have well taken the chance as well."