Shandre Campbell set up Puso Dithejane on the duo’s senior national team debuts to help Bafana Bafana defeat Egypt 1-0 in Cairo on Sunday and wrap up Pitso Mosimane’s first assignment successfully.
Dithejane, who previously had six caps at the COSAFA Cup, was one of the wholesome changes wrung by Mosimane to the side that started in the 5-0 thrashing of Eretria, with Sphephelo Sithole and Ime Okon the only survivors from that game and Sipho Chaine captaining the side.
The opening 20 minutes belonged to the hosts, however they couldn’t really penetrate the South African defence. As early as the eighth minute Bafana were under pressure as Omar Marmoush’s shot from inside the box ball going wide.
With frustration of not being able to do anything with their chances form inside the box, Egypt starting testing Chaine from range. However Mohamed Hany and Marwan Ateya respective long range shots missing targets.
The visitors took the game to Egypt in the 20th minute, Tashreeq Mathews laid the ball for Thabang Matuludi but the latter was indecisive with his final touch. Bafana lost possession inside their box in the 29th minute leaving Ibrahim Adel to capitalise on the mistake but was denied by Chaine.
The Orlando Pirates goal minder was called again to the rescue 10 minutes to the break this time denying Karim Hafez. There were some half chances from Bafana in the half a tame Cassius Mailula attempt and Matuludi shooting a Fawaaz Basadien pass slightly wide before halftime.
South Africa made triple subs when they came back from the break. Tshepang Moremi, Campbell and Khulumani Ndamane came on for Luther Singh and Mathews and Okon. The changes brought on effect as Campbell assisted Dithejane beat the goalie and two defenders to break the deadlock in the 50th minute.
Egypt were kept quiet for the next 12 minutes and substitute Hamza Abdelkarim produced a moment of brilliance trying to equalise but only forced Ricardo Goss to make a super save.
The win over the Pharaohs means three out of three wins for Bafana under the Mosimane era following the victories over Guinea and Eretria in the 2027 AFCON qualifiers last month.