Mosimane calls on Egyptian fans to back South Africa against Eritrea

Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane has appealed to Egyptian football supporters to support South Africa when they face Eritrea in a crucial 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Cairo.

Mosimane has a close relationship with Egyptian football after spending two years managing Al Ahly. During his time with the Egyptian giants, he led the club to two CAF Champions League titles.

He is now returning to Egypt with South Africa for their second Group D fixture, with Bafana having begun their qualifying campaign with a 2-1 home victory against Guinea last Saturday.

Eritrea drew 1-1 with Kenya in their opening match and go into Wednesday’s meeting with the 1996 AFCON winners on one point.

The match will be played at the Al-Salam Stadium, and Mosimane hopes the strong ties he has built in Egypt will help give his team a familiar welcome.

“The Egyptian nation has acknowledged Bafana Bafana from the history. Bafana Bafana has put good history in Egypt,” Mosimane said, according to SAFA.

“They know the players, they saw them also in the World Cup. We are saying to the Egyptians, we are brothers.

“We might be fighting again in a few days to come, but now that we are here, we have got a very good history.”

Mosimane also highlighted the influence of South African coaches in Egypt, including Rulani Mokwena, the former Mamelodi Sundowns coach who is now working in the country.

“We have got even the coaches here. Coach [Rulani] Mokwena is here, I was here. We have a very good foundation with the Egyptian Federation,” he said.

The Bafana coach then urged supporters of Al Ahly, known as the Red Devils, to attend the match and back South Africa against Eritrea.

“We hope that the Egyptians, the supporters, come to our match and support us. I’m saying to the Red Devils, the Red Devils must come to the match and support us and support me against Eritrea.”

Mosimane also singled out Alaoui before extending the invitation to Zamalek supporters.

“Alaoui, I’m expecting you to come and support. Obviously, Zamalekians also, they are good. They will come and support us. We need everybody to support us. They know us, we are brothers.”

South Africa will face Eritrea at the Al-Salam Stadium on Wednesday, 30 September, seeking a second consecutive victory and a stronger position in Group D.