Bafana Bafana’s squad depth: What Mosimane learned against Egypt

Pitso Mosimane has gained key insight into Bafana Bafana’s true player depth.

South Africa defeated Egypt 1-0 in Cairo on 4 October, with a heavily rotated squad getting the job done.

All members of the 30-man squad have now played in the September-October international window.

Who started for Bafana Bafana against Egypt?

According to the South African Football Association, Mosimane was expected to make “wholesale changes” for the Egypt game.

He told the website that he wanted to give each member of the squad game time during the window.

“We are pleading for patience and support for them. They are breaking through, and we need to see what we have in our ranks.”

Ahead of the game, the team list was confirmed as follows:

• Sipho Chaine
• Ime Okon
• Lebone Seema
• Thabang Matuludi
• Fawaaz Basadien
• Sphephelo Sithole
• Brooklyn Poggenpoel
• Tashreeq Matthews
• Puso Dithejane
• Luther Singh
• Cassius Mailula

Only Okon and Sithole remained in the starting lineup from the 5-0 win against Eritrea on 30 September.

Basadien, Matuludi, Sibisi, Dithejane, Matthews, and Campbell had not played under the new coach heading into the game.

Meanwhile, Bathusi Aubaas and Teboho Mokoena were ruled out after sustaining injuries late last month.

How the game in Cairo happened

Egypt looked the more dominant of the teams in the early proceedings, pinning South Africa in their own half.

Both countries had several goal attempts, but Chaine and his opposite Oufa Shobeir were up to the task.

The match was goalless at half-time, and it took just 6 minutes of the second half for that to change.

Campbell made a brilliant pass through the Egyptian defence for Dithejane to score on debut.

Chaine eventually made way for Goss, who made a few great saves to maintain the clean sheet.

After a lengthy period of added time, Bafana Bafana held on for a 1-0 win in Cairo.

Mosimane has answers about Bafana Bafana’s squad depth

With Ronwen Williams remaining on the bench, both Chaine and Goss were impressive.

Although questions remain about Bafana Bafana’s options upfront, Mosimane did not need to bring Iqraam Rayners on.

Themba Zwane, Samukele Kabini, and Nkosinathi Sibisi also remained on the bench.

Egypt had their chances to equalise, but South Africa did well to safeguard their lead throughout.

This is good news for Mosimane and gives him an excellent pool of talent to build on.

The game in Cairo was Bafana Bafana’s last appointment of the international window, before the AFCON 2027 qualifiers resume in November.

Players will soon return to their domestic teams in the PSL and abroad to continue their respective campaigns.

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