Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane has explained his rationale behind selecting African powerhouse Egypt for his first international friendly of his second stint, stating that he quickly gets bored when things are too easy.
Mosimane will begin his second tenure with 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers against Guinea at home on Saturday and Eritrea away in Cairo on September 30. The squad will then remain in Cairo to face the Pharaohs in a friendly on October 4.
Facing Egypt is set to give Mosimane’s fringe players, youngsters, and returnees a true test. Although they haven’t won the Afcon title since 2010, Egypt remains Africa’s most successful nation with seven continental crowns, including a historic three in a row between 2006 and 2010.
With Egypt ranked 24th in the world and third on the continent – compared to Bafana at 54th and 10th respectively – Mosimane noted that his side will need to be at their absolute best.
“It’s easy to play a friendly that you can always win,” Mosimane said. “Let’s play Egypt. Let’s do it right.”
Having previously scheduled matches against Africa’s top powerhouses during his first stint – which ultimately led to his dismissal after a string of draws – Mosimane is well aware that he could face similar scrutiny, but remains unfazed.
“I also know my fate 14 years ago. It was because I stacked Ivory Coast, Zambia, Ghana – the top six on the continent. I put them there as my friendly games to prepare, and I got all the draws. You know my fate,” he added.
“I asked myself: ‘Am I doing the same things with these friendly games?’ Or should I get someone whom we can beat 5-0 and say we have turned the corner? But I am that guy who falls on his sword. I believe that you need to do it right. It might not go well, but it’s part of life.”
Taking the easy route is simply not Mosimane’s style; instead, he prefers to challenge himself.
“That’s me. That’s me in football – when it’s easy and comfortable, I get bored,” Mosimane said. “I need the rush. I need to be on the edge a little bit. I think that’s what I am.”
