- 1 Egypt vs South Africa: two 5-0 wins, one friendly in Cairo
- 2 Egypt Analysis
- 3 South Africa Analysis
- 4 Free Football Prediction: Egypt vs South Africa
- 5 About our free predictions
- 6 No commitment from us
- 7 Information changes
- 8 Your responsibility
- 9 Responsible gambling
- 10 Legal age
- 11 About visuals
Egypt vs South Africa: two 5-0 wins, one friendly in Cairo 
Egypt host South Africa in an international friendly on Sunday 4 October at the Cairo International Stadium. Kick-off is set for 20:00 Paris time, 21:00 in Cairo.
Both teams arrive with the same scoreline fresh in their minds. Egypt won 5-0 in Juba against South Sudan on 29 September, and South Africa beat Eritrea 5-0 a day later in their own 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
The fixture carries a recent and meaningful history. The last meeting came on 26 December at the 2025 AFCON, when a first-half Mohamed Salah penalty gave a ten-man Egypt a 1-0 win.
The longer record actually leans the other way. According to AfricaSoccer, the two nations have met 15 times, with South Africa winning eight, Egypt five and two draws.
The summer gave both countries reasons to be proud. Egypt reached the World Cup round of 16 for the first time, and South Africa also made the knockout stage of a World Cup for the first time in their history.
The context has shifted since then. South Africa now have Pitso Mosimane in charge after Hugo Broos left on 31 July, and Egypt are dealing with the fallout of a row around Salah, who is not expected to play.
So this is a friendly, but not a meaningless one. Hossam Hassan wants a convincing home performance, while Mosimane has described the game as a chance to test the wider squad before next year’s AFCON.
Bookmakers make Egypt clear favourites. AfricaSoccer lists the home win at around 1.72, with both teams to score at 2.15.
Sports Mole expects a 2-1 home win. The same scoreline is the expert pick in the AfricaSoccer preview, priced at 8.
Egypt also enter the game with defensive momentum, having kept two clean sheets in their opening qualifiers. South Africa, for their part, have scored seven goals in two games under their new coach.
Egypt Analysis 
Egypt’s World Cup was the best in their history. They finished second in Group G after draws with Belgium and Iran and a 3-1 win over New Zealand, their first ever victory at a World Cup finals.
They then went past Australia on penalties before Argentina ended the run 3-2 in the round of 16. Egypt had led 2-0 in that game, which shows how close this side came to something even bigger.
The new qualifying cycle started slowly with a 0-0 home draw against Angola on 25 September. The reaction came four days later in Juba, where Mostafa Zico, Omar Marmoush twice, Ibrahim Adel and Hamza Abdelkarim all scored.
Marmoush is the man to watch. His brace took him to 13 international goals, and Sunday will show whether he can carry the attack without Salah next to him.
The defence has also been solid, with no goals conceded in either qualifier. The absences are real though: Ahmed Fatouh, Trezeguet, Yasser Ibrahim and goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy are all listed as out, and Mohamed Abdelmonem has returned to Nice.
Even so, Sports Mole expects a line-up close to the one that won in Juba. That continuity is a genuine edge in a game where the visitors plan heavy changes.
Egypt are also unbeaten in five of their last six friendlies, with three wins and two draws since November 2025. That record suggests the Pharaohs rarely take these games lightly.
Mostafa Shobeir is expected in goal with El Shenawy injured. He saved a Lionel Messi penalty at the World Cup, which says plenty about his confidence on big occasions.
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South Africa Analysis 
South Africa’s 2026 World Cup ended in the round of 32 with a 1-0 defeat to Canada, decided by a stoppage-time goal. Reaching that stage was still a first for Bafana Bafana.
Mosimane, 62, was confirmed on 1 September for a second spell in charge after his 2010-12 stint. His start has been positive, with a 2-1 win over Guinea at Orlando Stadium followed by the 5-0 win over Eritrea.
Relebohile Mofokeng scored twice against Eritrea, and Oswin Appollis supplied three of the five goals. Sphephelo Sithole, Iqraam Rayners and Luther Singh completed the scoring.
The problems sit in midfield. Teboho Mokoena and Bathusi Aubaas are ruled out, Aubrey Modiba is doubtful at left-back, and Mbekezeli Mbokazi and Evidence Makgopa are also unavailable.
Mosimane has said he will change the team wholesale, giving minutes to players such as Sipho Chaine, Khulumani Ndamane, Fawaaz Basadien and Cassius Mailula. That rotation makes sense for him, but it weakens the side on the night.
South Africa’s friendly record is a point in their favour. Pre-match previews point out that they have lost just one of their last 19 international friendlies, with 11 draws among them.
Mosimane has said Sunday is the only friendly before next year’s AFCON. That explains why he wants to see as many players as possible in a demanding setting.
Captain Ronwen Williams is the only goalkeeper used so far in this camp. Chaine is therefore expected to get his chance between the posts in Cairo.
Probable lineup Egypt: Shobeir; Hany, Abdelmaguid, Rabia, Hafez; Attia, Lasheen; Ashour, Zico, Hassan; Marmoush
Probable lineup South Africa: Chaine; Ndamane, Sibisi, Seema, Basadien; Sithole, Poggenpoel; Matthews, Zwane, Dithejane; Mailula
Free Football Prediction: Egypt vs South Africa
Our prediction: Egypt to win (odds around 1.72)
Egypt keep most of the team that scored five in Juba, play at home and have not conceded in their last two competitive games. South Africa, by contrast, will rotate heavily and arrive without their two first-choice holding midfielders.
The historical record favours Bafana Bafana, but the most recent meeting went to Egypt, and the current squad situations point the same way. Hassan also needs a strong result after the Angola draw and the noise around Salah, which should guarantee intensity from the hosts.
We back Egypt to win, with a 2-1 scoreline looking the most likely outcome given South Africa’s ability to score in transition. At around 1.72, the home win offers fair value in a friendly that both coaches are taking seriously.
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