Bafana Bafana to play on

The South African Football Association (SAFA) is being advised by government intelligence on the security situation in Egypt ahead of their Africa Nations Cup qualifier in Cairo on June 5.

The recent political unrest in the North African country has been a cause for concern but there is every indication that Bafana Bafana will travel to Egypt for the match.

Steven Pienaar will captain South Africa for the second time in a competitive game, but his Tottenham Hotspur team-mate Bongani Khumalo has not recovered from a broken toe and was unavailable for selection.

However, Khumalo's injury did not reopen the door for former captain Aaron Mokeona. Instead, Hapoel Tel-Aviv's Bevan Fransman has been included in the 23-man squad. Defender Tsepo Masilela, who also plays in Israel at Maccabi Haifa, has recovered from a knee injury and has also been added.

Pienaar, Fransman and Masilela are three of eight foreign-based players who have been included in the squad. Leeds United striker Davide Somma, Panseraikos' Bernard Parker, Kagisho Dikgacoi - who is with English championship side Crystal Palace - and Belgium-based Siboniso Gaxa and Anele Ngconga are the other overseas players.

Coach Pitso Mosimane was able to pick a full strength squad as most international leagues have come to an end. The match will be crucial to both teams chances of playing in next year's continental championship. South Africa are top the table with seven points and a win will all but confirm their participation in the tournament, which they last featured in 2006.

It's a must-win match for Egypt, who are defending champions and will not be able to participate in the tournament if they don't win. It's Mosimane's mission to end the Pharoahs' run of 16 consecutive appearances at the event.

"Once we kick Egypt out of the group we then have one less tough team at the Nations Cup," he said.

The last time Egypt didn't qualify for the event was in 1978. With a proud record to defend and 80,000 people at the National Stadium to do it in front of, Mosimane is not expecting any hospitality from the fans.

"What happened in Freetown when we played Sierra Leone last year will be the same as Cairo in terms of hostility. It will be a difficult match and we all know what this match means to them [Egypt]. Obviously, they will be at their best and, unfortunately, we'll be the ones to face them."

South Africa's squad will assemble on Sunday, a day after the Premier Soccer League concludes and will conduct a week-long training camp in Rustenburg, north west of Johannesburg from Monday. Pienaar and Masilela are expected to meet up with their team-mates a little later because of club commitments.