Bafana Bafana’s squad depth: What Mosimane learned against Egypt

0 Pitso Mosimane’s plan to give fringe players a chance works well against Egypt on 4 October. Image: Wikimedia Commons, Patrick de Laive (Flickr). Home » Sport » Soccer » Bafana Bafana » Bafana Bafana’s squad depth: What Mosimane learned against Egypt

A heavily rotated South Africa team defeated Egypt in Cairo on 4 October, with a debutant scoring the decisive goal.

0 Pitso Mosimane’s plan to give fringe players a chance works well against Egypt on 4 October. Image: Wikimedia Commons, Patrick de Laive (Flickr). Pitso Mosimane has gained key insight into Bafana Bafana’s true player depth.

South Africa defeated Egypt 1-0 in Cairo on 4 October, with a heavily rotated squad getting the job done.

All members of the 30-man squad have now played in the September-October international window.

According to the South African Football Association, Mosimane was expected to make “wholesale changes” for the Egypt game.

He told the website that he wanted to give each member of the squad game time during the window.

“We are pleading for patience and support for them. They are breaking through, and we need to see what we have in our ranks.”

Ahead of the game, the team list was confirmed as follows:

Only Okon and Sithole remained in the starting lineup from the 5-0 win against Eritrea on 30 September.

Basadien, Matuludi, Sibisi, Dithejane, Matthews, and Campbell had not played under the new coach heading into the game.

Meanwhile, Bathusi Aubaas and Teboho Mokoena were ruled out after sustaining injuries late last month.

Egypt looked the more dominant of the teams in the early proceedings, pinning South Africa in their own half.

Both countries had several goal attempts, but Chaine and his opposite Oufa Shobeir were up to the task.

The match was goalless at half-time, and it took just 6 minutes of the second half for that to change.

Campbell made a brilliant pass through the Egyptian defence for Dithejane to score on debut.

Chaine eventually made way for Goss, who made a few great saves to maintain the clean sheet.

After a lengthy period of added time, Bafana Bafana held on for a 1-0 win in Cairo.

And so it finishes at Cairo International Stadium!! Great victory in Egypt!!!#BafanaPride@StandardBankZA @adidasZA @10bet_ZA @SABC_Sport @REXONA_SA @HonorAfrica @socios @flysaa @CastleLagerSA @NUTRITECHFIT pic.twitter.com/ovnPGAvrf3

With Ronwen Williams remaining on the bench, both Chaine and Goss were impressive.

Although questions remain about Bafana Bafana’s options upfront, Mosimane did not need to bring Iqraam Rayners on.

Themba Zwane, Samukele Kabini, and Nkosinathi Sibisi also remained on the bench.

Egypt had their chances to equalise, but South Africa did well to safeguard their lead throughout.

This is good news for Mosimane and gives him an excellent pool of talent to build on.

The game in Cairo was Bafana Bafana’s last appointment of the international window, before the AFCON 2027 qualifiers resume in November.

Players will soon return to their domestic teams in the PSL and abroad to continue their respective campaigns.

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