Pitso’s emerging Bafana stake a claim for places by shocking Egypt

Share current article via EmailShare current article via FacebookShare current article via TwitterShare current article via LinkedInMarc StrydomDigital Sports Editor

Opens in new windowOpens in new windowOpens in new windowOpens in new windowEnter fullscreen mode displaying this image.ExpandPuso Dithejane celebrates his goal for Bafana Bafana with teammates Shandre Campbell and Ime Okon in their friendly win agsinst Egypt at Cairo International Stadium in Cairo on Sunday night. Three wins from three and one of them with a team consisting mostly of emerging youngsters away against a near full-strength Egypt including Tottenham Hotspur star Omar Marmoush.

That is the enviable record of the start to Pitso Mosimane’s second term as Bafana Bafana coach after Sunday night’s 1-0 friendly victory against Egypt at Cairo International Stadium.

Puso Dithejane scored the goal that separated the teams in the 51st minute.

It was the second successive win for South Africa against the Pharaohs in all clashes and at the venue, the last coming under Stuart Baxter when Bafana shocked the hosts of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in the last 16.

Since then Bafana have improved in the continental competition they at one stage spent more than a decade battling to even qualify for, winning a bronze medal in 2024 then a less impressive quarterfinal exit in January.

⚽️ 𝕀𝕟𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕟𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕒𝕝 𝔽𝕣𝕚𝕖𝕟𝕕𝕝𝕪 ⚽️🥅 ⒼⓄⒶⓁ: Bafana Bafana finally break the deadlock against Egypt! 🇪🇬 0⃣➖1⃣ 🇿🇦🚨 LIVE📺 SABC 3🌐 https://t.co/afggCu6HfA#SABCSportFootball pic.twitter.com/Hsz3Ln11pk

The South Africans’ genuine signs of revival that started under Hugo Broos have continued under Mosimane, whose first two matches last week were 2027 Afcon qualifiers, both won — 2-1 against Guinea at home and 5-0 against Eritrea in Cairo — to top Group D.

Mosimane kept to his stated undertaking of giving players in his 30-man squad who had been used as substitutes or unused in the opening two games of the camp more of a chance against Egypt.

Sipho Chaine came into goal, Thabang Mataludi, Lebone Seema and Fawaaz Basadien into the defence. Durban City’s Brooklyn Poggenpoel, who came on early for injured Bathusi Aubaas and impressed against Eritrea, got a chance to add to his stake for a place as a starter, as did Luther Singh, Dithejane, Tashreeq Matthews and Cassius Mailula in the front line.

Egypt, like Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo, were rocked in this camp by a similar falling-out and early departure of a superstar in Mohamed Salah, apparently over disagreements with coach Hossam Hassan and team manager Ibrahim Hassan.

The Pharaohs were less experimental than South Africa, keeping largely to their line-up that drew 0-0 against Angola and beat South Sudan 5-0 in their Afcon qualifiers.

⚽️𝕊𝕋𝔸ℝ𝕋𝕀ℕ𝔾 𝕏𝕀⚽️This is how Bafana Bafana are taking on the field in their FIFA friendly match against Egypt!🚨 LIVE📺 SABC 3🌐 SABC+#SABCSportFootball pic.twitter.com/d8zWUweeLr

Goalkeeper Oufa Shobeir, defenders Mohamed Hany, Hossam Abdelmaguid and Rami Rabia, midfielders Mohanad Lasheen, and Emam Ashour and strikers Mostafa Ziko and Omar Marmoush were retained and made for an intimidating line-up.

Yet the emerging Bafana more than held their own, stubbornly competing, the newer players showing grit and energy as they looked to take their chance to stake a claim, in the first half, then grabbing the lead at the start of the second.

The South Africans took advantage of an error in judgement by Shobeir. From a ball punted up-field by Seema, the Al Ahly keeper came out of his box to attempt to challenge Dithejane, but the Chicago Fire attacker came through with the ball and could gratefully score on debut into an open goal.

Egypt were out of sorts, but even so would never concede a defeat easily on home soil. In the 71st Rabia’s cross from the left found substitute Hamza Abdelkarim, the young Barcelona striker Barcelona, up for a sharp header that forced a good stop from replacement keeper Ricardo Goss.

In the seventh minute of added time Osama Faisal’s shot was blocked by Goss as far as Abdelkarim, who shaved the crossbar.

The result preserved Mosimane’s perfect record at the start to his second stint and saw the coach earn another memorable result in Egypt, the country where his Mamelodi Sundowns terrorised clubs, including winning the 2016 Caf Champions League final, and where he steered Al Ahy to two more Champions Leagues.

Would you like to comment on this article?Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.