South Africa coach Pitso Mosimane praises Lebone Seema for pocketing Egypt star Marmoush in friendly

South Africa coach Pitso Mosimane has heaped praise on Orlando Pirates defender Lebone Seema following his impressive display in Bafana Bafana’s 1-0 victory over Egypt.

Seema was handed the difficult assignment of keeping Egypt forward Omar Marmoush quiet during the international friendly and produced a performance that earned special recognition from Mosimane.

Marmoush, who plays his club football in the English Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur, posed a significant threat with his pace, movement and ability to attack spaces. However, Seema managed to stay with the Egyptian forward and limit his influence throughout the encounter.

Mosimane revealed that South Africa had prepared specifically for Egypt’s style of play, with the technical team aware of the danger posed by Marmoush and the service he could receive from the wide areas.

“I know Egyptian football, so we were prepared a lot. The ball will always come from the full-backs hanging at the right-back; he was my player all the time,” Mosimane said.

The Bafana Bafana coach admitted that Marmoush’s qualities made him a difficult opponent, pointing to the Manchester City star’s pace and explosiveness.

“Marmoush was a little bit of a problem. You can see why he’s playing in the Premier League. He’s fast, he’s quick, but Lebone is quick.”

Mosimane’s comments underline the importance of Seema’s performance, particularly given the quality of the opponent he was tasked with containing.

The Orlando Pirates defender was required to remain disciplined while dealing with Marmoush’s movement and pace, and his ability to match the Egyptian forward physically helped South Africa maintain control.

For Seema, the performance represents another important step in his development at international level. Being trusted with the responsibility of dealing with one of Egypt’s most dangerous attacking players also reflects the confidence Mosimane has placed in the defender.

South Africa ultimately secured a narrow 1-0 victory, with the result providing a positive outcome against a strong Egyptian side.

While the focus will naturally be on the team’s victory, Seema’s individual display stood out, with Mosimane particularly impressed by the defender’s ability to match Marmoush’s speed.

The Bafana Bafana coach will hope the performance gives Seema further confidence as he continues to establish himself as a reliable option in the national team.