Pitso Mosimane names experimental South Africa XI for Egypt clash

Pitso Mosimane has named a significantly changed South Africa starting XI for this evening’s match against Egypt, with several players from his first squad yet to feature since he replaced Hugo Broos.

Bafana Bafana have made an unbeaten start to Mosimane’s second spell in charge, winning both of their opening matches under the coach. They began with a 2-1 home victory over Guinea before following it with a convincing 5-0 win against Eritrea.

Those results have given South Africa six points from their opening fixtures in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign and provided Mosimane with a positive beginning after returning to the role.

The latest victory also helped Bafana Bafana climb in the Fifa rankings. They moved above Czechia to return to 49th place, a ranking position they last held in October 2011 during Mosimane’s first spell as head coach.

Mosimane succeeded Broos, who had guided South Africa to their first-ever qualification for the knockout stages. The new coach had already indicated that he intended to use an experimental line-up against the Pharaoes, and his selection includes a number of changes from the side used in previous matches.

Egypt won the most recent meeting between the teams. However, South Africa had won the three encounters before that defeat, giving Bafana Bafana a positive record in their recent head-to-head meetings with Egypt.

South Africa and Egypt line-ups

South Africa’s starting XI is Chaine, Okon, Seema, Matuludi, Basadien, Sithole, Poggenpoel, Matthews, Dithejane, Singh and Mailula.

The Bafana Bafana substitutes are Williams, Rayners, Mbuthuma, Zwane, Campbell, Moremi, Kabini, Morena, Makhanya, Ndamane, Sibisi and Goss.

Egypt will start with Shobeir; Hany, Rabia, Abdelmuguid, Karim, Lasheen, Attia, Ashour, Adel, Marmoush and Ziko.

The match gives Mosimane an opportunity to assess more members of his squad while South Africa look to continue their winning run and maintain their strong opening to qualifying.