Bafana Bafana to face Egypt in Pitso Mosimane’s first friendly

South Africa will face Egypt in a high-profile friendly at Cairo International Stadium on 4 October 2026, giving newly appointed Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane an immediate return to familiar surroundings.

The match will be Mosimane’s first friendly in charge of South Africa since his appointment was confirmed earlier this week. It will take place in Egypt, where he previously coached Al Ahly.

The fixture has been arranged for the international window after Bafana Bafana’s opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Guinea and Eritrea.

The South African Football Association (SAFA) said Egypt had confirmed the date and kick-off time.

“The Egyptians have confirmed to the South African Football Association (SAFA) that the match will be played on 4 October 2026 and kickoff is at 20h00 South African time.

“Newly appointed coach Pitso Mosimane will take his place on the bench for the first time when Bafana Bafana open their CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2027 account against Guinea in a home qualifier on Saturday, 26 September 2026. The South African senior men’s national team will then travel to face Eritrea away on Wednesday, 30 September 2026.

The Guinea match will be Mosimane’s first competitive game since returning as Bafana Bafana coach. South Africa will then travel to face Eritrea four days later before making the trip to Cairo for the meeting with Egypt.

The friendly will also bring Mosimane back to a country where he is well known after his spell with Al Ahly. His return to the South Africa job adds extra significance to a fixture involving two of Africa’s leading national teams.

SAFA president Danny Jordaan expects the match to provide a demanding examination for both sides. He also believes Mosimane’s previous experience in Egypt will add another dimension to the contest.

“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.”

The Cairo encounter will therefore follow three important fixtures in quick succession for Mosimane: the home Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Guinea, the away meeting with Eritrea and then the international friendly against Egypt.

South Africa’s senior men’s national team will begin their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations campaign on Saturday, 26 September 2026, before travelling to Eritrea on Wednesday, 30 September. The match against Egypt will be played on Sunday, 4 October 2026, with kick-off scheduled for 20h00 South African time at Cairo International Stadium.