South Africa claimed a narrow 1-0 win over Egypt in Sunday night’s international friendly at Cairo International Stadium, a hard-fought result sealed by Puso Dithejane’s second-half finish.
The result made it three wins from three matches for Bafana Bafana under newly appointed coach Pitso Mosimane in the current window. The team returns to action next month in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Kenya, home and away.
Egypt, meanwhile, suffered their first defeat since their elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup by Argentina. Hossam Hassan’s side will be determined to bounce back with successive wins when they take on Malawi in next month’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The Pharaohs were the better side in the opening exchanges. Omar Marmoush had a fine chance to break the deadlock in the ninth minute, but the Tottenham Hotspur forward failed to keep his close-range shot on target.
Bafana then grew into the game and looked threatening on the counter. Cassius Mailula’s powerful strike from outside the area was well saved by Mohamed Shobeir in the 25th minute, while Ibrahim Adel’s low shot in the 29th went straight to Sipho Chaine. It was 0–0 at halftime.
The deadlock was broken six minutes into the second half after Mohamed Shobeir made a mistake, coming out of his box and failing to clear. Puso Dithejane pounced and fired into an empty net for his first international goal, making it 1–0 to South Africa.
The Pharaohs had a chance to level matters in the 71st minute, but goalkeeper Ricardo Goss made a fine save to deny fellow substitute Hamza Abdelkarim. South Africa then stood firm in the closing stages and held on to secure a hard-fought 1–0 win over Egypt.
Egypt 0
South Africa 1 (Dithejane 51')
Egypt: Shobeir (Soliman 77'), Hany (Alaa 90'+1), Rabia, Abdelmuguid, Karim, Lasheen, Attia, Ashour (Faisal 46'), Adel, Marmoush (Abdelkarim 69'), Ziko (Zizo 69').
SA: Chaine (Goss 62'), Okon (Ndamane 46'), Seema, Matuludi, Basadien, Sithole (Sibisi 90'+7), Poggenpoel (Makhanya 77'), Matthews (Moremi 46'), Dithejane (Morena 77'), Singh (Campbell 46'), Mailula (Mbuthuma 63').