Egypt pick strong side for Bafana tie

third consecutive time last year for a 2012 qualifier against South Africa on March 26 at Ellis Park.
Goalkeeper Essam al-Hadary, defenders Ahmed Fathi, Wael Gomaa, Sayed Moawad and Ahmed al-Mohamady, midfielders Hossam Ghaly and Hosny Abd Rabou and striker Mohamed Zidan were in the starting line-up.
Mohamed “Geddo” Nagy came on midway through the second half of the final with severely weakened Ghana comfortably containing Egypt in Luanda and he grabbed the only goal five minutes from full-time.
A virtual unknown outside his country before the 2010 tournament who ended up as leading scorer with five goals, ‘Geddo’ suffered concussion playing for Al-Ahly against South African club SuperSport United at the weekend.
But he has been declared fit to be included in a 23-man squad for the key Group G clash with South Africa who are three points ahead of Egypt after just two rounds.
The Luanda triumph in the biennial African football showpiece followed successes in Cairo and Accra and the “Pharaohs” have won seven Cup of Nations titles – three more than closest rivals Cameroon and Ghana.
But Egypt are facing an unexpectedly tough fight just to make the 2012 tournament in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea as only the winners of a group completed by Niger and Sierra Leone are assured of a place. Egypt were held 1-1 in Cairo by Sierra Leone last September and suffered a stunning 1-0 loss in Niger, a result assistant coach Hamada Sedki described as the “worst ever” for a national team currently ranked third in Africa.
South Africa have four points, Niger three, Sierra Leone two and Egypt one and the defending champions need at least a draw in South Africa to retain a realistic chance of topping the final table.
Long-serving coach Hassan Shehata chose 19 locals with the bulk coming from perennial giants Ahly, Zamalek and Ismailia, plus stars based in Sudan, Saudi Arabia, England and Germany.
Veteran Al-Hadary recently joined Omdurman outfit Al-Merreikh, striker Ahmed Ali plays for Riyadh side Al-Hilal, Zidan for Borussia Dortmund and Mohamady is part of the African contingent at Sunderland. Egyptian superstar Mohamed Aboutreika of Ahly is back after missing Angola through injury and there is also a place in midfield for temperamental but talented Mahmoud “Shikabala” Abdelrazek from Zamalek. – AFP.