Bafana Bafana's opponents for their 2024 CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifier have reportedly indicated that they will send their U-20 team to play the match.
Last week, CAF confirmed the draw for the second qualifying stage of CHAN, a tournament that only allows locally based players to compete.
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Bafana were drawn against Egypt, with the two-legged qualifier slated to take place between 28 February and 2 March, and the second leg between 7 and 9 March 2025.
South Africa will play the first leg of the qualifier at home, with the return fixture set to take place in Egypt.
But despite the first encounter taking place in less than two weeks, the Bafana squad for the match is yet to be announced, with some suggestions that Helman Mkhalele will be in charge.
Now, according to Nigerian publication BSN Sports, the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) has revealed that they are planning to send the Egypt U-20 team to play the CHAN qualifiers against South Africa.
The report claims that this is due to a scheduling conflict.
The Egypt U-20 side is also preparing for the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in May. Thus, the young Pharaohs' participation in the CHAN qualifier against Bafana is viewed as an opportunity for the youth side to prepare for the tournament.
Nevertheless, should Bafana beat Egypt in the CHAN qualifiers, CAF has confirmed they will face the winner of the Comoros vs Malawi tie in another qualifier in order to book a spot in the tournament, which has been postponed to August 2025.
CHAN 2024 will be hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
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By Lukhanyo Mtuta
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