New Bafana Bafana head coach Pitso Mosimane has called on Egyptian football supporters, including Al Ahly and Zamalek fans, to get behind South Africa when they face Eritrea in their next 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixture.
Mosimane has strong ties to Egyptian football after enjoying a hugely successful spell with Al Ahly, where he won two CAF Champions League titles among several major honours between 2020 and 2022.
The South African tactician also has a long-standing relationship with the Egyptian football fraternity and believes Bafana’s history in the country can help create a special atmosphere when they return to Egypt.
“The Egyptian nation has very good knowledge of Bafana Bafana, the history, the national team has good history in Egypt, they know the players, they saw them in the World Cup, we are saying to the Egyptians, we are brothers,” Mosimane told SAFA media.
While South Africa could find themselves competing against Egyptian clubs and supporters on the continental stage in the future, Mosimane stressed that their current visit should be about unity.
“We might be fighting again in a few days to come, but now that we are here, we have a very good history, even the coach Rulani Mokwena is here, I was here. We have a very good foundation with the Egypt Federation,” he added.
Mosimane then issued a direct appeal to his former club, Al Ahly, affectionately known as the Red Devils, asking their supporters to turn up and back Bafana.
“So we hope the Egyptian supporters come to our match, and support us. I’m talking to the Red Devils, they must come to the match and support us and support me against Eritrea,” he said.
“Alahwy, I’m asking you to come and support.”
The Bafana coach also extended the invitation to supporters of Al Ahly’s fierce Cairo rivals Zamalek, insisting that both fanbases have a connection with South African football.
“Obviously, Zamalekians, they are good, they will come and support us, we need everyone to support us – they know us, we are brothers,” Mosimane concluded.