South Africa have all but secured their place in next year's Nations Cup finals in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon while Egypt's hopes are virtually shattered.

The referee blows his final whistle two minutes earlier than expected

90+4: El-Hadary pulls off another great save to deny South Africa in the dying seconds.

90+2: Egypt try some long balls but South Africa's defense remains tight in the crucial stages.

90:00: The Tunisian referee adds seven minutes of stoppage time, renewing Egypt's hope of scoring an invaluable winner.

89:00: South Africa's final substitution, Bevan Fransman replaces Tshabalala.

87:00: Ahmed Fathi misses the target with a fierce left-foot shot from inside the area.

85:00: The second substitution for South Africa, Davide Somma replaces Mphela, who scored South Africa's winner over Egypt in March.

85:00: Five minutes remaining before the final whistle, South Africa are edging closer to fulfilling their target of holding Egypt to a precious draw.

84:00: A clear penalty for Egypt turned down by the referee after Abdel-Zaher was pushed in the area.

82:00: El-Hadary needlessly rushes out of his goal and Tshabala tries to take advantage with a long ball from around 40 yards but it misses the target with the goal gaping.

79:00: Egypt have the better possession but never threaten South Africa, who are imposing their rhythm on the game.

79:00: The third and final substitution for Egypt, Ismaily midfielder Amr Al-Sulaya replaces Fathallah.

74:00: The first substitution for South Africa, Tlou Segolela replaces the lively Parker.

72:00: South Africa keeper Khune handed a yellow card for wasting time.

71:00: Gedo rises unmarked but his header from an Ahmed Fathi corner goes just wide of the post.

69:00: Geddo sends in a pinpoint cross but Abdel-Zaher fails to get on the end of it at the near post. Egypt are still finding it hard to create goal-scoring chances.

65:00: The second substitution for Egypt, striker Ahmed Ali, who plays for Saudi Arabia outfit Al-Hilal, comes on instead of Shikabala.

62:00: Katlego Mphela wastes a clear-cut chance for South Africa!! he runs onto a defense-splitting pass from Parker and rounds El-Hadary but a last-ditch interception from defender Mahmoud Fathallah spares Egypt blushes.

60:00: Ahmed Fathi latches onto a through ball and jinks into the area but his powerful shot is blocked by Khune.

57:00: The off-form Zidan is substituted, making way for Gedo who scored five goals off the bench to help Egypt win a record-extending seventh Nations Cup title in Angola in 2010.

56:00: 2010 Nations Cup hero Mohamed Nagy 'Gedo' getting ready to step onto the pitch.

53:00: El-Hadary blocks Tshabalala's angled free kick at his near post.

52:00: Hosni Abd-Rabou's free-kick is easily gathered by South Africa guardian Itumeleng Khune.

48:00: Zidan appears pushed by a defender inside the area but the referee waves the play on.

46:00: No changes were made during the break.

The second half begins

Stay tuned for the second-half coverage of Egypt V South Africa clash in the African Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The referee blows his halftime whistle, the score remains goalless.

45:00: Ahmed Elmohamady squanders a golden chance once again!! Sayed Moawad's cross evades the defense and finds him but his low shot from eight yards out is blocked by the keeper.

42:00: South Africa have a penalty claim turned down by the referee after Wael Gomaa apparently brought down a forward.

40:00: Egypt are still struggling to find their rhythm  as South Africa are so far enjoying a trouble-free night.

36:00: El-Hadary denies a South Africa goal for the third time, thwarting Bernard Barker following a one-on-one situation after the striker superbly skipped past sweeper Hossam Ghaly. 

34:00: Ahmed Elmohamady wastes Egypt's first real chance as he towers to meet an in-swinging Shikabala cross but his header goes just over the bar.

33:00: El-Hadary once again thwards a dangerous South Africa effort, diving to his right to palm away a fierce drive from Tshabalala. 

32:00: Egypt are suffering from the lack of adequate forwards, as Abdel-Zaher left isolated upfront.

28:00: Central defender Siyabonga Sangweni wastes a golden opportunity to put South Africa in front. He was found unmarked at the far post but his close-range header is superbly blocked by El-Hadary, the first real goal-scoring opportunity in the game.

25:00: Shikabala eludes his challenger on the left and whips in a pinpoint cross but, once again, there are now forwards in the penalty area to connect with those crosses.

22:00: South Africa winger Siphiwe Tshabalala picks up the first yellow card for a handball near the penalty area.

21:00: Zidan runs down the right flank and sends in a low cross but Abdel-Zaher fails to convert it goalwards, blasting it wide instead under pressure from a defender.

19:00: Too many mis-placed passes disrupt Egypt's attacking attempts.

17:00: Egypt lay siege to South Africa's area but find it difficult to carve out spaces.

15:00: Shikabala's low free kick strikes the wall, he gathers the rebound but his follow-up effort goes into the safe hands of South Africa keeper.

14:00: South Africa's first attempt on goal, defender Morgan Gould sends a low shot that is easily collected by El-Hadary.

12:00: Egypt dominate possession but are yet to create a clear-cut opportunity. Shikabala and Zidan's efforts are cut short by South Africa's defenders.

11:00: South Africa defenders successfully deal with it. Their backline remains steadfast.

10:00: Hosni Abd-Rabou's long-range shot deflected, corner kick for Egypt.

09:00: Egypt players are subjected to some tough tackles from their South Africa counterparts.

08:00: Egypt keeper Essam El-Hadary gathers a tame long ball from South Africa's defense.

06:00: Zidan often moves to the left, Shikabala moves to the right as both men flank ENPPI striker Ahmed Abdel-Zaher.

05:00: Zidan tries his luck with a left-foot shot from the edge of the area but his effort misses the target.

04:00: Mohamed Zidan crosses from the left flank but none of Egypt players get on the end of it. The Pharaohs pile on pressure from the very beginning.

02:00: Free-kick for Egypt awarded for a foul on Ahmed Elmohamady on the right flank.

08:30: The match is underway.

08:25: Both teams line up for the national anthem. What do you expect for that game? Hurry up, there are only five minutes left!

 08:13: Few minutes remaining before kick-off, stay tuned for the live coverage of the anticipated clash.

07:55 Egypt and South Africa players step onto the pitch for the routine warm-up amid enthusiastic cheers from the home crowd.

07:35 Thousands of supporters have shown up in the Military stadium and we can only see a few seats empty.

Egypt's starting line-up:

Essam El-Hadary, Hossam Ghaly, Wael Gomaa, Mahmoud Fathallah, Ahmed Elmohamady, Hosni Abd-Rabou, Ahmed Fathi, Sayed Moawad, Mahmoud Abdel-Razek 'Shikabala', Ahmed Abdel-Zaher, Mohamed Zidan

Both teams arrived at the Military Academy Stadium, around 80 minutes before kick-off. Fans also start to show up amid tight security.

The Pharaohs – who are at the bottom of the group with just a single point – are in a must win situation to keep their hopes alive.

We are on for the crucial tie between Egypt and South Africa in the Nations cup qualifiers.

Cairo Military Academy Stadium

Egypt V South Africa, kickoff time: (06:30 GMT, 08:30 Cairo local time)

Referee: Slim Jedidi  (Tunisia)

Competition: African Cup of Nations qualifiers

Attendance: Around 22,000 supporters