Pitso Mosimane to use Egypt friendly to assess fringe players ahead of new Bafana Bafana era

BAFANA Bafana players in for bumper international window with Egypt lining up on October 4 after the two Afcon qualifiers in September.

Bafana Bafana’s new coach, Pitso Mosimane , will have at least one more opportunity to assess his fringe players in action as the national team will face Egypt in an international friendly on October 4 at the Cairo International Stadium, immediately after the first round of the 2027 Afcon qualifiers.

Mosimane will begin his second tenure as Bafana coach with the continental showpiece qualifier on September 26 on home soil, with the venue yet to be announced by Safa. Four days later, they will face Eritrea in the second qualifier away from home – reportedly at a neutral venue in Egypt.

It is vital that Bafana begin their quest for the finals – which will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda – with a win. This will not only set the tone for the remainder of the campaign but also prove their intention to challenge for the title.

During his official unveiling at Safa House on Tuesday, August 31, Mosimane acknowledged the need to build on the foundation laid by his predecessor, Hugo Broos , by increasing competitiveness in both performance and results.

The former CAF Coach of the Year is expected to select a strong contingent of Broos’ regulars against Guinea and Eritrea, though he will have to find suitable replacements for key injured players, including Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Khuliso Mudau, Thalente Mbatha, and Evidence Makgopa.

However, four days after facing Eritrea – reportedly in Egypt – Safa announced on Thursday morning that Bafana will take on the Pharaohs in a friendly. Mosimane stated that this match will provide an opportunity to introduce new faces and give chances to players who were on the fringes under Broos.

“Matches against Egypt are always tough and we do not expect anything less in this latest installment. I think that coach Pitso’s return to Bafana Bafana will add another twist because they know him very well in the North African country. This will be another great test for both teams," Safa president Dr Danny Jordaan added in the statement.

Mosimane is expected to announce his preliminary squad in the coming days, before trimming it down to the final selection shortly before the Fifa international window opens – the first since the World Cup – from September 21 to October 6.