“Swimming With Sharks”: Mosimane To Rotate Bafana Squad Against Egypt
Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane will make wholesale changes when South Africa face Egypt in an international friendly at Cairo International Stadium on Sunday night.
Midfield injuries to Bathusi Aubaas and Teboho Mokoena force changes following back-to-back 2027 AFCON qualifying victories over Guinea (2-1) and Eritrea (5-0). Aubaas lasted just 16 minutes against Eritrea before limping off, while Mokoena missed the match after taking a blow against Guinea at Orlando Stadium.
The physical toll leaves Sphephelo Sithole and recent debutant Brooklyn Poggenpoel as Mosimane’s primary options in central midfield.
However, Mosimane reassured supporters that rotating his squad across this three-match international block was always the technical team’s intent.
The Bafana Bafana coach is expected to introduce all the players who are yet to feature and has appealed for patience and support as the South Africans face Egypt.
“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 on SAFA media.
“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.
“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.”
Goalkeepers Sipho Chaine and Ricardo Goss are expected to see some action, as are Fawaaz Basadien, Khulumani Ndamani, Shandre Campbell, Puso Dithejane, Tashreeq Matthews and Cassius Mailula, among others.
Following their two wins in the AFCON qualifiers, Bafana Bafana sit top of Group D with six points, followed by Guinea on three points after the West African side defeated Benni McCarthy’s Kenya on Thursday.
