Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane is set to make wholesale changes when South Africa face Egypt in an international friendly at the Cairo International Stadium on Sunday night.
With the two 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Guinea and Eritrea already completed, Mosimane intends to use the encounter against the Pharaohs to assess players who have not yet featured during the extended three-match camp.
The Bafana coach has called for patience and support as a new generation of players gets an opportunity to test themselves against one of Africa’s biggest football nations.
“We are pleading for patience and support for them. They are breaking through and we need to see what we have in our ranks,” said Mosimane.
“Unfortunately, we have a big team that we have to play against on Sunday. The challenge is that we have to let them swim with the sharks, but we have got nothing to lose.”
Mosimane believes the friendly provides a rare opportunity to expose his younger players to international football, particularly with Bafana unlikely to have another friendly before next year’s Africa Cup of Nations.
“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,” he said.
“The country must understand that we have played the qualifiers against Guinea and Eritrea and we are done. That is the most important thing.”
Mosimane said the focus is now increasingly turning towards building a squad capable of competing at the next FIFA World Cup.
“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.”
Goalkeepers Sipho Chaine and Ricardo Goss are expected to get an opportunity, while Fawaaz Basadien, Khulumani Ndamani, Shandre Campbell, Puso Dithejane, Tashreeq Matthews and Cassius Mailula are among the players in line for involvement.
The match also gives Mosimane an opportunity to assess the depth of South African football, with the coach keeping a close eye on the country’s junior national teams.
The national Under-20 side recently underlined its strength in the region by winning back-to-back COSAFA U20 Men’s Championships, while the Under-23 side has also made an encouraging start to its preparations for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
Amaglug-glug came from behind to beat Algeria 3-1 in Bloemfontein on Thursday after losing the opening friendly 1-0.
“We saw the U-23s, we watched the game and we are happy with what we saw. We are happy with the prospects,” said Mosimane.
However, the Bafana coach faces a selection headache in midfield, with Bathusi Aubaas and Teboho Mokoena ruled out through injury.
Their absence will give other midfielders an opportunity to stake their claim as Mosimane continues to assess his options and build greater depth in the national team.
For the youngsters, Sunday night’s encounter represents exactly the kind of challenge Mosimane believes they need — an opportunity to swim with the sharks and show whether they can handle the demands of international football.