Egypt should not underestimate their unfancied opponents in the 2012 African Cup of Nations qualifiers because they pose a threat to the Pharaohs, assistant coach Shawki Gharib said on Saturday. The defending champions were handed an easy task after being drawn in Group Seven along with South Africa, Sierra Leone and Niger. They are overwhelming favorites to finish on top and reach the 2012 Nations Cup, which will take place in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. "Unfancied teams always cause surprises. There are no weak teams in Africa these days," Gharib told FilGoal.com. "Our opponents always do their best when they play against us because beating the African champions would be a great achievement for them." Egypt won an unprecedented third consecutive Nations Cup title when they beat Ghana 1-0 in the final last month for their seventh triumph in history. The winners and the best three second-placed teams in the qualifiers will reach the biennial tournament.