Bafana Bafana and Egypt lock horns in a battle to top group B at Afcon 2025. The two sides have sights on six points after defeating Angola 2-1 and Zimbabwe 2-1, respectively, on matchday one.
Following Monday’s win, coach Hugo Broos has dropped Al Ettifaq Mohau Nkota winger and Orlando Pirates’ attacking midfielder Sipho Mbule.
TSHEPANG MOREMI AND THALENTE MBATHA START
On the right flank, Nkota has been replaced by Pirates’ Moremi, while another Buccaneer, Mbatha, has taken the place of his teammate Mbule.
With Mbatha playing his football as a central midfielder, coach Broos has tweaked the formation. Bafana Bafana will battle Egypt with two 8s to form a three-man midfield. The trio will be anchored by Sphephelo Sithole.
FULL BAFANA BAFANA STARTING LINE-UP VS EGYPT
Goalkeeper: Ronwen William, right-back: Khuliso Mudau, right central defender: Siyabonga Ngezana, left central defender: Mbekezeli Mbokazi, left-back: Aubrey Modiba, defensive midfielder: Sphephelo Sithole, central midfielder: Teboho Mokoena, central midfielder: Thalente Mbatha, right-winger: Tshepang Moremi, left winger: Oswin Appollis, striker: Lyle Foster.
The history between Bafana Bafana and Egypt includes several notable meetings at major tournaments and in qualifiers. Egypt edged South Africa 1–0 in the group stage of the 1996 Afcon before beating them again 2–0 in the 1998 Afcon final.
The sides traded results in 2006 friendlies, with South Africa winning 2–1 before Egypt responded with a 1–0 victory. In Afcon qualifying for the 2011 tournament, Bafana claimed a 1–0 home win and held Egypt to a goalless draw away.
South Africa then recorded a 1–0 friendly win in 2016, before famously knocking Egypt out of Afcon 2019 with a 1–0 last-16 victory.
Also read: Where are Bafana Bafana on the current CAF rankings?
