Egyptians still hold out hope that their team can qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations but the squad must first get past South Africa, Abeer Anwar reports Egypt have won the Africa Cup of Nations the last three times in succession and seven overall. Both are records. But Egypt could soon set a new, unwanted record -- the only defending champion not to make it to the next tournament. It could happen when the sides clash in Cairo on 5 June in a game the African champions need to win to have a chance of making it to next year's Africa Cup of Nations. South Africa currently top Group G with seven points, six more than bottom side Egypt who have yet to win one of their three games. Sierra Leone sit on two points, with Niger in second on six points. Three games have been played and three remain. When the nations last met, South Africa won 1-0 in Johannesburg in March thanks to a last- minute winner from World Cup striker Katlego Mphela. Hassan Shehata, Egypt's head coach, has announced the line-up. The Pharaohs welcome back Ismailia defender Abdullah El-Shahat as well as Belgian side Lierse striker Dodo El-Gabbas. El-Masry's goalkeeper Ahmed El-Shennawi has been called up to join the national team for the first time after Abdel-Wahed El-Sayed of Zamalek was injured in a league match Thus, goalkeeper Ahmed Adel became the seventh player from Ahli to make the Pharaohs' squad. Only three players from league toppers Zamalek -- Mahmoud Fathalla, Ibrahim Salah and Shikabala -- are on the list after the exclusion of El-Sayed. Full Squad: Goalkeeper s: Essam El-Hadari (Merrikh, Sudan), Ahmed El-Shennawi (Masri) Defenders : Wael Gomaa (Ahli), Mahmoud Fathalla (Zamalek), Mohamed Naguib (Police Union), Hani Said (Masri), Ahmed Fathi (Ahli), Ahmed El-Mohamadi (Sunderland, England), Sayed Moawad (Ahli), Ahmed Samir Farag (Ismaili) Midfielders: Hosni Abd Rabu (Ismaili), Hossam Ghali (Ahli), Amr El-Soleya (Ismaili), Ibrahim Salah (Zamalek), Mohamed Nagy Gedo (Ahli), Mahmoud Shikabala (Zamalek), Ahmed Hassan (Ahli), Abdullah El-Said (Ismaili) Forwards : Mohamed Zidan (Boroussia Dortmund, Germany), Ahmed Ali (Hilal, KSA), Dodo El-Gabbas (Lierse, Belgium), El-Sayed Hamdi (Petrojet), Ahmed Abdel-Zaher (Enppi) Among the Bafana players travelling to Cairo is defender Morgan Gould who has already been on the receiving end of a loss in Egypt when his club side Super Sport United took on Ahli in March. "This will definitely be a different experience. Back in March I was on club duty and although we played well against them we lost. This time we are going for the country and the stakes are higher," said Gould. "The expectations now are that we can do it, more so because we were able to defeat them in our last match. But still we should not be complacent because of that victory. We know it's going to be very difficult and we have to be strong mentally. We are expecting a backlash from them so we need to be on top of our game," Gould said. Bafana Bafana head into the match buoyed by their recent rise in the continental rankings. They are now fourth ranked in Africa just behind Egypt. "We are in the top five on the continental rankings, so the challenge is to stay there, improve and make a mark for ourselves," Gould said. Bafana Bafana beat Tanzania 1-0 I in a recent friendly without their foreign-based players who should be back for the trip to Cairo. "Playing Egypt in our backyard was not easy so this will be twice as hard away," Gould added. "We need to focus on what we have to do and I believe we have the mentality to do just that. The goal is to get three points, but we will still be happy with a point. We must not make the mistake that they are a weakened side even though they are bottom of the group; we are expecting a backlash from them so we need to be on top of our game for 90 minutes." Steven Pienaar returns to captain Bafana Bafana. A new inclusion is midfielder Hlompho Kekana who made his international debut against Tanzania. Egypt are training day and night in Ismailia far from the noise and buzz of the capital, Cairo. Bafana Bafana are in the midst of a two-week preparation camp for the match in Egypt, seven days longer than normal.
