South Africa manager Pitso Mosimane says he will make numerous changes for Sunday’s friendly against Egypt at Cairo International Stadium, insisting his side have “nothing to lose”.
Mosimane plans to select players who have not yet featured during an extended three-match camp, which has included 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying victories over Guinea and Eritrea as well as the meeting with the Pharaohs.
The Bafana Bafana manager said his intention had always been to give every member of the squad a chance to play during the camp. He urged supporters to show patience as less experienced players are tested against one of Africa’s leading teams.
“We ask them to be patient and support them. They are breaking through and we need to see what we have in our ranks,” Mosimane told SAFA.
“Unfortunately, we have to face a big team in Egypt on Sunday. The challenge is to let them take on the sharks, but we have nothing to lose.”
Mosimane described the fixture as an important opportunity to assess the players at international level, despite its friendly status.
“It is a friendly match and we need to see what they are capable of at this level,” he said. “So we ask for patience and support for these young players.”
He also stressed that South Africa’s qualifying work against Guinea and Eritrea was complete, making the Egypt match part of the team’s preparation for the next FIFA World Cup.
“The country must understand that we played the qualifiers against Guinea and Eritrea, and that is finished. That is the most important thing,” Mosimane added.
“It is essential to prepare for the next FIFA World Cup and, if we do not play them now, when will we see them? We will not have any friendlies before the Africa Cup of Nations next year, so this is their only chance.”
Kick-off in Cairo is scheduled for 21:00 local time on Sunday.