Bafana Bafana face their toughest test of the current international break when they take on Egypt in an international friendly in Cairo on Sunday evening.
Pitso Mosimane‘s side have made a strong start under their new coach, beating Guinea 2-1 before producing a convincing 5-0 victory over Eritrea.
Egypt, however, will provide a significantly different challenge and should give Mosimane a clearer indication of where his team stands against one of Africa’s traditional heavyweights.
With Mosimane expected to make several changes to his starting XI, there could be opportunities for some of the players who have featured less prominently in the opening two matches.
Bafana to take on Egypt
Here are three players who could come into the starting lineup against Egypt:
Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Sipho Chaine could be handed a rare start for Bafana Bafana.
The 28-year-old is one of the more experienced members of the squad but has had limited opportunities at international level, making Sunday’s match a potential chance for him to stake his claim.
With Ricardo Goss also competing for the position, Chaine could get the nod as Mosimane looks to assess his goalkeeping options.
Young winger Puso Dithejane could be in line for his first start for Bafana Bafana.
Dithejane’s performances in Major League Soccer with Chicago Fire have earned him a call-up to the national team, and his pace and attacking ability could provide another dimension against Egypt.
After making his way into the squad, a start in Cairo would give the youngster an opportunity to show Mosimane what he can offer at international level.
Themba Zwane could also return to the starting XI as Mosimane looks to add experience to his midfield.
The veteran midfielder has not started for Bafana Bafana in some time, but Sunday’s match could provide him with an opportunity to remind the new coach of his qualities.
With Teboho Mokoena unavailable, Zwane’s experience could be particularly valuable in the middle of the park against a strong Egyptian side.
Mosimane is expected to use the friendly to assess different combinations, and the match could provide several players with an important opportunity to impress as Bafana Bafana continue to build under their new coach.
Which player should start?
