Bafana Bafana will face Egypt in an international friendly at Cairo International Stadium on 4 October 2026, with kick-off scheduled for 20h00 South African time.
The Egyptian Football Association has confirmed the fixture to the South African Football Association (SAFA), setting up another high-profile encounter between two of Africa’s football heavyweights.
The fixture forms part of a busy period for Bafana Bafana, who will first travel to face Eritrea on Wednesday, 30 September, before heading to Cairo for the meeting with Egypt four days later.
The Egypt clash will also serve as an early test for newly appointed head coach Pitso Mosimane as he begins his second spell in charge of the South African national team.
Mosimane will officially begin his return to the Bafana Bafana bench when South Africa host Guinea in their opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier.
The experienced coach will therefore face a demanding start to his second tenure, with the Egypt friendly providing an opportunity to assess his squad against one of the continent’s most established national teams.
SAFA President Dr Danny Jordaan believes the fixture will be a valuable test for Mosimane and his players.
“Matches against Egypt are always tough and we do not expect anything less in this latest instalment. I think that Coach Pitso’s return to Bafana Bafana will add another twist because they know him very well in the North African country. This will be another great test for both teams,” said Jordaan.
South Africa and Egypt have developed a competitive rivalry over the years, with their meetings often producing closely contested encounters.
Their most recent meeting ended in disappointment for Bafana Bafana, who suffered a 1-0 defeat to a 10-man Egypt in a dramatic and incident-filled AFCON Group B encounter in Morocco in December 2025.
The upcoming friendly in Cairo will give Bafana Bafana an opportunity to test themselves against strong opposition while continuing their preparations for the next phase of their international campaign.
For Mosimane, the fixture could also provide an important opportunity to further assess his squad and establish his approach as he begins his second stint at the helm of the national team.
