Bafana prove a point in Egypt

Bafana Bafana edged ever closer to the 2012 African Nations Cup on Sunday night, keeping their cool in fiery Cairo, and killing off the dreams of the reigning African champions.

The Cairo Military Stadium rose to applaud Pitso Mosimane’s side at the end, at the same time as the vented their fury at their own team, who have had an abysmal qualifying campaign.

Bafana, by contrast, are rising in continental stature by the day, and should actually have emerged from the Egyptian capital with all three points.

Katlego Mphela and Tlou Segolela, in either half, found themselves one-on-one with Egypt keeper Essam El Hadary, and neither could finish.

South Africa will now qualify with a win against Niger in Niamey in September, though a point may well suffice, with a home game against Sierra Leone to come.

Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane was ultimately forced to leave his captain Steven Pienaar out of the side, after the midfielder failed to recover in time from a knee injury. Reneilwe Letsholonyane, as expected, came in on the right side of midfield, while Siphiwe Tshabalala took over the armband.

Letsholonyane was a revelation on the right of midfield, buzzing around with tireless determination. Tshabalala was also relishing his role as captain, and sent a sign of Bafana’s attacking possibilities after 20 minutes, with a delightful ball for Mphela, who pulled wide left, but had little support.

Egypt again looked a pale shadow of a side that has won the last three African Nations Cups. Their delivery from set pieces was particularly dreadful.

Tshabalala’s were far better, and from Bafana’s first corner, Siyabonga Sangweni might have opened the scoring, but El Hadary clawed out his near-post header.

The Bafana captain then lashed in a shot from 30 metres out that El Hadary had to fling himself to his right to push away. The crowd were growing restless, but it might have been so much worse for them minutes later.

Letsholonyane robbed Ahmed Fatallah in midfield and played a perfectly weighted ball for Mphela. The Sundowns striker’s first touch was glorious, taking the ball away from Hossam Ghaly and bursting clear. But his shot was spurious, clattering into the legs of El Hadary.

Pitso Mosimane had been bouncing around like a jack-rabbit for much of the first half, incensed by a couple of soft decisions going Egypt’s way. And he was riled again, when Mphela went down in the box under Wael Gomaa’s challenge, but Tunisian referee Slim Jedidi simply told the Bafana man to get back on his feet.

Egypt were roused briefly as the half drew to a close. A generally solid Bafana back four fell asleep and allowed Ahmed El Mohamady in at the back post, but his shot was superbly stopped by Itumeleng Khune.

Egypt came out with similar spirit after the break, and Morgan Gould had to be alert to block Shikabala’s run. Hosni Abd Rabou then struck a free kick straight at Khune, before Tshabalala’s tried in vain to sneak a set piece at the other end past El Hadary at his near post.

Egypt brought on the hero of the 2010 Nations Cup, Mohammed Gedo, and he almost made an impact immediately, Anele Ngcongca doing brilliant to get in front of his run from Fattalah’s cross.

Khune, the hero against Sierra Leone in Freetown in October, then made arguably his save of the season, somehow getting a hand to Ahmed Fathy’s fierce drive.

Next it was Mphela’s turn to again steal in behind the Egypt’s defence, but though he rounded the ‘keeper, his first touch took him away from goal, and he was unable to finish.

Egypt continued to press Bafana, but in truth, they threatened little, with Kagiso Dikgacoi and Andile Jali mopping up well in front of the back four, and the defence mostly composed in dealing with Egypt’s attacks. - The Star

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