Egypt's African champions status will be on the line when they host South Africa in a do-or-die qualifier on Sunday night. The seven-time champions are facing an unprecedented exit from the CAN 2012 finals after being off to their worst-ever qualifying campaign in Group 7. One point from three games leaves Hassan Shehata with almost no option other than a win against unbeaten leaders South Africa in Cairo. "It is impossible to have a Nations Cup without the champions," said Shehata, whose seven-year stint with Egypt is seriously at stake. "During my spell as an Egypt manager, fans have always been there for us without being asked. But now I am asking them to stand behind us in the match against South Africa." According to team captain Ahmed Hassan, a ‘huge comeback' is something that this generation of players has been familiar with. "At a certain stage of the 2010 World Cup qualifiers, we were considered out of the race," said the Ahli midfielder, who lifted four Nations Cup trophies before. "But we made a huge comeback and finished joint top, forcing a decider (against Algeria). "Yes, we lost this decider. But the lesson learnt was that you can never give up, never mind how slim your chances are."
Egypt will be without the services of Ahli star Mohamed Abou-Treika as his Zamalek counterpart Shikabala is tipped for the playmaker role. In midfield, on-fire Ismaili captain Hosni Abd-Rabou is a definite starter, while Ahmed Fathi is likely to join him, with Ahmed Elmohamady filling in the right-back position. Shehata has Ahmed Ali and Al-Sayed Hamdi as possible options in attack, while Mohamed Zidan adds to the hosts' firepower despite his recent lack of match practice. Plan B A draw for South Africa at the Military Academy would be a ‘very good' result, according to team captain and midfield star Steven Pienaar. But the Tottenham man is unlikely to be leading Bafana Bafana due to a fresh training injury as manager Pitso Mosimane looks for other options in vice-captain Siphiwe Tshabalala. "We have 'Shabba' here in case Steven is not here and if he doesn't make it then we have plan B," Mosimane, who led his nation to a 1-0 victory over Shehata's side in March, said. "It will be a disappointment but it is not a crisis." Apart from Pienaar's likely absence, South Africa will be the latter's Spurs mate Bongani Khumalo as well as influential midfielder Thanduyise Khuboni.
