Bafana Bafana to face Egypt in Cairo friendly under Pitso Mosimane

The South African Football Association (Safa) has arranged a high-profile friendly for Bafana Bafana against Egypt at Cairo International Stadium on 4 October.

The match will kick off at 8pm South Africa time and will give new coach Pitso Mosimane another demanding assignment during his return to the national team.

Before travelling to Cairo, Mosimane must prepare Bafana Bafana for two important 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches. South Africa will host Guinea on 26 September before facing Eritrea in Asmara four days later, on 30 September.

The coach is expected to announce a preliminary squad for those qualifiers before the end of the week. That group is likely to form the basis of the team involved in the Egypt friendly, although the match comes after the two competitive fixtures.

Egypt, known as the Pharaohs, will provide a significant test for Mosimane and his players at the Cairo International Stadium. The fixture also carries an added dimension because of the coach’s previous success in Egyptian football.

Mosimane led Al Ahly to two Champions League titles, meaning he is well known in Egypt. Safa president Danny Jordaan said that familiarity could add an extra element to the meeting between the two sides.

“Matches against Egypt are always tough and we do not expect anything less in this latest instalment. I think 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,” said Jordaan.

The Cairo match has been secured as part of a busy period for Bafana Bafana, with the immediate priority being their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.

South Africa’s first qualifier in this sequence will be against Guinea at home on 26 September. Four days later, Mosimane’s side will travel to Asmara to play Eritrea.

The coach’s preliminary squad announcement will come before the end of the week, ahead of those two matches and the subsequent trip to Egypt. The friendly against the Pharaohs is scheduled for 8pm South Africa time on 4 October.

Mosimane’s return to Bafana Bafana therefore begins with competitive football before the team takes on Egypt. His experience of managing in the country, including his two Champions League triumphs with Al Ahly, will be a notable feature of the fixture.

For Safa, the Cairo game represents an opportunity to arrange a high-profile challenge for the national team while also giving Mosimane an early meeting with opponents who know him well. According to Jordaan, that familiarity will make the contest an especially useful examination for both teams.