Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane has explained why he will shake up his squad for Sunday’s international friendly match against Egypt at Cairo International Stadium.
Fresh from collecting maximum points against Guinea and Eritrea in the 2027 AFCON qualifiers, South Africa now face better-ranked opponents in the Pharaohs. Mosimane and his men would still want to beat the seven-time African champions to maintain a winning record in the coach’s second stint at the helm of the national side.
The former Mamelodi Sundowns tactician called up 30 players for the current camp, which falls during an extended FIFA international break. That gives him a wide pool to choose players from.
Players who did not feature in the Guinea and Eritrea match will be given a run by Mosimane on Sunday. That could see the likes of Shandre Campbell, Fawaaz Basadien, Thabang Matuludi, Puso Dithejane, Khulumani Ndamane and Tashreeq Matthews starting.
Also, goalkeeper Ronwen Williams might be rested for Sipho Chaine and Ricardo Goss.
‘THE CHALLENGE IS TO LET THEM SWIM WITH THE SHARKS’: MOSIMANE ON GIVING OTHERS A CHANCE
One of the reasons Mosimane intends to make wholesale changes is that this is the only window for friendly games before the 2027 AFCON finals.
“We are pleading for patience and support for them. They are breaking through, and we need to see what we have in our ranks,” Mosimane told SAFA.net.
“Unfortunately, we have a big team [Egypt] that we have to play against on Sunday. The challenge is we have to let them [the players] swim with the sharks, but we’ve got nothing to lose,” he said.
“It is a friendly game, and we need to see what they are capable of at this level. So we plead for patience and support for these youngsters.
“The country must understand that we have played the qualifiers [against Guinea and Eritrea] and we are done. That is the most important thing.
“It is important to build for the next FIFA World Cup, and if we don’t put them in now, when are we going to see them? We do not have friendly games until the Africa Cup of Nations next year, so this is the only chance they have.”
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