Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane says he will make wholesale changes for Sunday’s international friendly against Egypt as he assesses his squad ahead of the next stage of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.
South Africa face Egypt at the Cairo International Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 21:00.
The match comes after Bafana Bafana opened their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign with victories over Guinea and Eritrea. Mosimane used similar starting line-ups in both matches as he attempted to establish a settled team.
Those results have left South Africa top of a group also containing Guinea, Eritrea and Kenya, with six points from two matches.
Mosimane now intends to give several other players an opportunity during the final match of an extended three-game international camp. He told www.safa.net on Friday that his plan had always been to involve every member of the squad during the two qualifiers and the friendly against Egypt.
“We are pleading for patience and support for them. They are breaking through and we need to see what we have in our ranks. Unfortunately, we have a big team (Egypt) that we have to play against on Sunday,” Mosimane said.
“The challenge is we have to let them (the players) swim with the sharks, but we’ve got nothing to lose.”
The Bafana Bafana coach said the friendly was part of a wider plan to prepare for another FIFA World Cup cycle while giving younger players exposure at international level.
“It is a friendly game and we need to see what they are capable of at this level. So we plead for patience and support for these youngsters. The country must understand that we have played the qualifiers (against Guinea and Eritrea) and we are done. That is the most important thing.
“It is important to build for the next FIFA World Cup and if we don’t put them in now, when are we going to see them? We do not have friendly games until the Africa Cup of Nations next year, so this is the only chance they have.”
South Africa’s most recent meeting with Egypt came at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, when the Pharaohs won 1-0.
Predicted Bafana Bafana line-up
Sipho Chaine is expected to start in goal, with Thabang Matuludi, Ime Okon, Khulumani Ndamane and Samukele Kabini forming the defence.
Brooklyn Poggenpoel and Teboho Mokoena are predicted to operate in midfield, while captain Themba Zwane, Tshepang Moremi, Cassius Mailula and Puso Dithejane make up the expected attacking line-up.
