The Egyptian national team will face their South African counterparts in a friendly match on October 4, 2026, at Cairo International Stadium. This match comes during a period of international break, which will last until October 6. The two teams have a rich history of encounters, with 13 previous matches, where South Africa holds a slight edge with 7 wins, 5 wins for Egypt, and 1 draw.
The first encounter between Egypt and South Africa dates back to November 24, 1995, in a friendly tournament in South Africa. The match ended with a 2-0 win for South Africa, with goals from Hielman Mkeleli and Shaun Bartlett. Egypt's team was led by Dutch coach Ruud Krol, while South Africa was led by coach Clive Barker.
The two teams have met in several high-profile tournaments, including the Africa Cup of Nations. In the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations, Egypt defeated South Africa 1-0, with a goal from Ahmed "Al-Kas" Fahim. Egypt went on to win the tournament, claiming their fourth title. Another notable match was the 1998 Africa Cup of Nations final, where Egypt won 2-0, with goals from Ahmed Hassan and Tarek Mostafa.
In recent years, the two teams have continued to face each other in friendly matches and tournaments. On November 15, 2003, Egypt won a friendly match 2-1, with goals from Medo and Ahmed Hosam. However, South Africa gained revenge on January 14, 2006, winning 2-1 in a friendly match at Cairo International Stadium.
The two teams have also met in World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. In 2011, South Africa won a crucial qualifier 1-0, with a goal from Katlego Mphile in the dying minutes of the match. Egypt's coach at the time, Hassan Shehata, saw his 7-year tenure come to an end after the match.
More recently, the two teams met in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, where South Africa caused an upset, winning 1-0 in the round of 16. The match was marked by controversy, with the South African goal scored in the 85th minute. Egypt's coach at the time, Javier Aguirre, was left to ponder what could have been.
The upcoming friendly match on October 4 will be a chance for both teams to assess their current form and prepare for future tournaments. Egypt's coach, led by captain and star player Mohamed Salah, will look to build on their recent form, including a 5-0 win over South Sudan in a World Cup qualifier. The match will be broadcast live on On Sports.
Key points
- Egypt and South Africa have a long history of encounters, with 13 previous matches, where South Africa holds a slight edge with 7 wins, 5 wins for Egypt, and 1 draw.
- The two teams have met in several high-profile tournaments, including the Africa Cup of Nations and World Cup qualifiers.
- The upcoming friendly match on October 4 will be a chance for both teams to assess their current form and prepare for future tournaments.
