Puso Dithejane scored the only goal to give South Africa a 1-0 friendly win over Egypt in Cairo. The victory on Friday night provides a timely boost for Bafana Bafana as they build towards their next World Cup qualifier.
Dithejane struck in the 51st minute, finishing a move that broke down a resilient Egyptian defence. The hosts dominated possession with 61 percent but created few clear chances against a disciplined South African side. Goalkeeper Sipho Chaine and his replacement Ricardo Goss made five saves between them to preserve the clean sheet.
Head coach Pitso Mosimane used the match to rotate his squad, making eight substitutions in total. Key players Teboho Mokoena and Bathusi Aubaas were unavailable, while regular starter Aubrey Modiba was a doubt. Brooklyn Poggenpoel received an early yellow card in the 31st minute, one of four cautions for South Africa.
Egypt were without several stars, most notably Mohamed Salah. Journalist Ahmed Shobeir confirmed the forward's absence. "Mohamed Salah will miss today's fixture as he is currently in England," Shobeir said. "Head coach Hossam Hassan and Salah had a prior agreement regarding his availability."
The result improves South Africa's head-to-head record against Egypt to nine wins in 16 meetings. It also avenges a 1-0 loss to the same opponents at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. The team's recent form shows two wins, one draw and two losses in their last five outings.
This friendly success comes with South Africa sitting second in their World Cup qualifying group on four points. They face Kenya at home in their next competitive match on 11 November. Fans can track the team's progress and view the full fixtures schedule on our site. The latest squad information is also available as Mosimane continues to assess his options.
