The euphoric scenes in Cairo’s Tahrir Square last month, as the Egyptian people celebrated their freedom from Hosni Mubarak’s 30-year reign, were enough to warm even the most ice-cold of hearts around the globe.
In the spirit of revolution, the Egyptian national team will now hope to turn around a dismal 2012 African Nations Cup qualifying campaign, in turn hoping to upset the rhythm of Pitso Mosimane’s Bafana Bafana in Johannesburg on Saturday.
Ironically, it is this very liberation that might just stall the progress of Hassan Shehata’s three-time reigning African champions even further. The lengthy protests in Cairo have postponed the Egyptian league since January 25. And all but four of the Pharaohs 23-man squad that arrived in South Africa on Monday morning play in Egypt’s domestic league.
Egyptian giants Al-Ahly, the most successful club in Africa, beat SuperSport United 2-0 on Friday night in the Champions League, but by all accounts they looked distinctly rusty and were fortunate to emerge with such a healthy win.
“Ahly and Ismaily suffered from the same problem during the African matches,” Ismaily coach Mark Wotte, whose side reportedly struggled to a 2-0 win over Kenya’s Sofapaka, told Al Ahram online. “The current situation resembles the beginning of the season in which players are not fully fit.”
Gavin Hunt believes Bafana have an excellent chance to take down the Pharaohs. “We were sharp and bright and had the edge on them (Al Ahly) all the time. Read into that what you will,” said Hunt yesterday.
“I think Bafana have a great chance with the movement and pace they have, with guys like Tshabalala and Pienaar. They (Egypt) have a lot of experienced players and you can’t write them off, but they (Al Ahly) certainly looked leg-heavy and we have a great chance.
“I think this is our best chance, because I don’t think the Egyptian team has evolved much.”
This point is also one that is worth analysing. Egyptian football has enjoyed a golden period in recent times, Shehata’s side winning three consecutive Nations Cups, in Egypt in 2006, Ghana in 2008 and Angola in 2010. At the same time, however, they disappointed in losing out to Algeria over a place at the 2010 World Cup.
Shehata’s side, before the revolution, also stumbled to a 1-1 draw at home to Sierra Leone, and a 1-0 defeat in Niger. The signs, frankly, were already there, that the current generation of Pharaohs are beginning to lose their sheen. A bid was made to revive the national team following the Niger loss, with Egypt looking impressive in hosting the Nile Basin Tournament in January, winning all five of their matches.
There is of course, also enough talent in the Egypt squad to worry Bafana. Esam El Hadary is a goalkeeper of immense ability, while the returning Mohamed Aboutrika’s midfield skills have been instrumental in Egypt’s continental success. Striker Mohamed Zidan has provided a boost for Egypt by recovering from a broken rib for this game, while Gedo was the goalscoring hero of Egypt’s 2010 Nations Cup triumph.