South Africa's Bafana Bafana, under coach Pitso Mosimane, have made a remarkable start to his second term, registering three wins from three matches, including a 1-0 friendly victory over Egypt at Cairo International Stadium on Sunday night. The win was achieved with a team consisting mostly of emerging youngsters, showcasing the country's growing talent. Puso Dithejane scored the decisive goal in the 51st minute, capitalizing on an error by Egyptian goalkeeper Oufa Shobeir.
This victory marks the second successive win for South Africa against Egypt at the venue, with the previous one occurring under Stuart Baxter in 2019 during the Africa Cup of Nations. Since then, Bafana have shown significant improvement in the continental competition, winning a bronze medal in 2024 and reaching the quarterfinals in January. Mosimane's side has continued the revival that started under Hugo Broos, with the team's performance against Egypt being a testament to their growth.
Mosimane had stated that he would give players who had been used as substitutes or unused in the opening two games of the camp more opportunities against Egypt. The lineup included several new players, such as Sipho Chaine in goal, Thabang Mataludi, Lebone Seema, and Fawaaz Basadien in defense, and Brooklyn Poggenpoel, Luther Singh, Dithejane, Tashreeq Matthews, and Cassius Mailula in the front line. This approach allowed the coach to assess the depth of his squad.
Egypt, on the other hand, fielded a relatively strong lineup, with players like Omar Marmoush, Mostafa Ziko, and Mohanad Lasheen starting. However, the team was without superstar Mohamed Salah, who left the camp due to reported disagreements with coach Hossam Hassan and team manager Ibrahim Hassan. Despite this, Egypt still posed a significant threat, with Marmoush and other key players featuring in the lineup.
The match was a closely contested affair, with Egypt pushing hard for an equalizer. In the 71st minute, Rami Rabia's cross from the left found substitute Hamza Abdelkarim, who headed the ball sharply, forcing a good stop from replacement keeper Ricardo Goss. Egypt continued to press, with Osama Faisal's shot being blocked by Goss and Abdelkarim shaving the crossbar in the seventh minute of added time.
The result preserved Mosimane's perfect record at the start of his second stint as Bafana coach and marked another memorable result in Egypt, a country where he previously enjoyed success with Mamelodi Sundowns and Al Ahy. The win will undoubtedly boost the confidence of the emerging players, who demonstrated their ability to compete against a strong opponent.
The victory is a significant milestone for Mosimane, who is building a new team with a mix of experienced and young players. The coach will be pleased with the performance of his team, particularly the new players who were given opportunities to stake their claim for a place in the starting lineup. As Bafana Bafana continue their preparations for future competitions, this win will serve as a valuable confidence booster.
Key points
- Bafana Bafana secured a 1-0 friendly victory over Egypt, with Puso Dithejane scoring the decisive goal in the 51st minute.
