Egypt to face South Africa in October international friendly

Egypt will face South Africa in an international friendly at the Cairo International Stadium on 4 October as both sides continue preparations for their upcoming competitive commitments.

The fixture will provide an opportunity for the two African heavyweights to assess their squads and test their tactical plans ahead of the next round of major international matches.

The meeting is expected to attract significant attention given the history between the two nations. Egypt and South Africa have faced each other several times, including a memorable 2019 Africa Cup of Nations last-16 encounter in Cairo, when Bafana Bafana secured a 1-0 victory through Thembinkosi Lorch’s late goal.

The Cairo International Stadium, which has a capacity of about 75,000, will provide the setting for the latest meeting between the sides.

For Egypt, the match will form part of preparations under head coach Hossam Hassan as the Pharaohs continue to build towards their forthcoming continental commitments.

South Africa, meanwhile, will use the fixture to give their players valuable international experience against one of Africa’s most successful national teams.

The two countries have developed a competitive rivalry over the years, with their previous encounters producing a mixture of friendly and competitive matches.

Their most recent meetings have also included matches involving local-based players in the African Nations Championship, while Egypt defeated South Africa 1-0 in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations group stage.

The 4 October friendly therefore promises to be another significant test for both teams as they look to fine-tune their squads and maintain momentum ahead of their respective campaigns.