Bafana Bafana will conclude their current international window with a high-profile friendly against Egypt in Cairo on 4 October, with the encounter offering Pitso Mosimane another opportunity to assess his squad.
The match comes as South Africa and Egypt continue their preparations for major continental ambitions, while the possible absence of Mohamed Salah has added another talking point ahead of the meeting.
With the fixture being a friendly, Mosimane could make several changes to his starting lineup, potentially resting some of his established players while handing opportunities to members of the squad who have yet to feature under him.
Mosimane Chooses a Difficult Challenge
The decision to face Egypt reflects Mosimane’s desire to test Bafana against strong opposition rather than arrange a fixture designed primarily to produce a comfortable victory.
Speaking about his approach to international friendlies, Mosimane explained that he did not want South Africa to simply choose opponents they could overwhelm.
“I asked myself: ‘Am I doing the same things with these friendly games, or should I get someone whom we can beat 5-0 and say we have turned the corner?” he said, according to IOL.
For Mosimane, facing a team of Egypt’s stature provides a more demanding assessment of where Bafana stand.
Coach Remembers Previous AFCON Disappointment
The Egypt fixture also carries some personal significance for Mosimane because of his first spell in charge of the national team.
During that period, South Africa failed to qualify for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations after drawing 0-0 with Sierra Leone in their final qualifier.
Bafana ultimately finished behind Niger on head-to-head results, and Mosimane subsequently left his position amid heavy criticism.
His current approach suggests he wants difficult fixtures to form part of Bafana’s development rather than relying exclusively on matches where victory is expected.
Salah’s Availability Remains Unclear
The biggest question surrounding the Egypt camp concerns the availability of Liverpool star Mohamed Salah.
Salah missed the second of Egypt’s 2027 AFCON qualifying matches, but conflicting explanations have emerged over why the influential forward was absent.
Egypt coach Hossam Hassan initially indicated that Salah would miss the match against South Sudan because it was being played on an artificial surface, according to Goal.
That explanation later changed, with KickOff reporting that Hassan attributed the player‘s absence to “personal circumstances.”
Conflicting Reports Fuel Salah Speculation
The uncertainty has continued ahead of the Bafana friendly, with reports offering different accounts of whether Salah will take part.
Some reports suggest the Egyptian captain could miss the South Africa encounter altogether, while others indicate that he is expected to feature.
The conflicting explanations have also prompted criticism of Hassan’s handling of the situation, making Salah’s availability one of the major unanswered questions before the match.
Mosimane Could Give Fringe Players Their Chance
South Africa’s final fixture of the window could also provide valuable minutes to players who have not yet appeared under Mosimane.
The coach selected 30 players in his final squad, although only a relatively small group have yet to take the field.
Ronwen Williams could be among those rested, potentially opening the door for either Sipho Chaine or Ricardo Goss to start in goal.
Fawaaz Basadien, Thabang Matuludi, Nkosinathi Sibisi, Puso Dithejane, Tashreeq Matthews and Shandre Campbell are also yet to make appearances under the new Bafana coach.
Mosimane is expected to reveal his plans for the lineup in the days leading up to the match.
When and Where Bafana Face Egypt
The friendly will take place at the Cairo International Stadium on Sunday, 4 October 2026.
Kickoff is scheduled for 20:00 South Africa time, according to the South African Football Association.
For Mosimane, the fixture represents another chance to measure his team’s progress against one of Africa’s most prominent football nations.
Whether Salah takes part or not, the Cairo encounter should provide Bafana with another demanding test as they build towards their wider continental objectives.
