Pitso Mosimane recalled the 2020 “final of the century” and said South Africa do not have players of the quality of Imam Ashour and Zizo after his side beat Egypt 1-0 in Cairo.
South Africa defeated Egypt in the friendly at Cairo International Stadium, with Mosimane using the match to give opportunities to young players and new faces who were not involved in the 2026 World Cup.
Speaking to ON Sport after the match, Mosimane said returning to Cairo brought back memories of his time in Egyptian football. He said he was pleased to be back at the stadium and praised his team’s performance, particularly its organisation and use of pace.
The South African coach said speed remains one of his team’s major strengths and was pleased with the way his players applied themselves against Egypt.
Mosimane also discussed his plans with the South African national team and the importance of taking a break from coaching.
He said he “gets a break from training, which is important for his health and has happened to great coaches like Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp.”
The coach said he now feels healthier and wants to achieve success with South Africa after spending the previous period working on a book about football and young players.
His return to Cairo also revived memories of one of the most significant matches of his coaching career.
Mosimane said the reception he received in Egypt made him happy and that walking into Cairo International Stadium immediately reminded him of the 2020 Champions League final, when Al-Ahly defeated Zamalek to win the African title.
He recalled the quality of the Zamalek side that Al-Ahly faced in that match, naming several players who were part of the team.
“We won against a great team , Zamalek , which included Ashraf Ben Sharqi, Imam Ashour, Zizo, Shikabala and Mostafa Mohamed.”
Mosimane then compared the players available to him with the stars he had during his time at Al-Ahly, saying South Africa do not currently have players like Ashour and Zizo.
“I don’t have big players like Emam Ashour and Zizo in South Africa, but we played strongly. Look at Al Ahly, they now have big stars. If they were with me, we would have achieved greater results.”
Mosimane also spoke about his relationship with Al-Ahly, saying he was pleased to visit the club and meet Sayed Abdel-Hafiz, a member of the board of directors.
He also revealed that he received a message from Al-Ahly president Mahmoud Al-Khatib during his visit.
Mosimane suggested that he could return to the Egyptian club in the future, although he indicated that such a return would involve working with the youth.
The victory over Egypt therefore provided Mosimane with both a positive result and a return to a stadium that carries strong memories from his successful period with Al-Ahly.
