Civil disturbances in Egypt have disrupted sporting activities

South Africa have refused to postpone next month's 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Egypt.

The Pharaohs had asked for another date after the political crisis that has rocked the North African country recently.

But an official of the Egyptian FA Amr Abu Elez said their plea had been turned down by the South Africans.

"We already have an answer from the South Africans and they refused," Abu Elez told BBC Sport.

"They said they don't want to postpone the match and they want to play it on 26 March."

Egypt run the risk of not making it to the finals, to be co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

The reigning African champions are currently last in Group G, which is made up of five teams.

Bafana Bafana lead the group with four points.

Abu Elez said they had also taken their case to the Confederation of African Football (Caf) and were still waiting for a response.

But he added that he was not confident that the continental body would change the date.

The football administrator said with this in mind, preparations for the game would go on as usual.

He said the Pharaohs would be travelling to Oman to train after club side Al Ahly's African Champions League match on 19 March.

Asked when the local league would resume, Abu Elez said it would be after their game against South Africa.

Another club, Zamalek, have already played a game at home as they beat Kenya's Ulinzi Stars 1-0 to qualify for the next round of the Champions League.

"It's great to have matches back in Egypt," he said.

"The supporters were very good."

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