Egypt, who Hugo Broos as described as Bafana Bafana's biggest threat at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations have already begun preparing for the tournament.
The two nations have been drawn into Group B alongside Angola, and Zimbabwe in what promises to be a highly competitive race to qualify for the knockout rounds of the tournament.
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"On paper, Egypt is the biggest threat to us in the group," Broos admitted to CAFonline.
"They did not perform well in the last edition and were eliminated early, but over the past year, they have built a strong team and performed brilliantly in the qualifiers.
"They will be the team we must beat if we want to top the group."
With their eyes set on reclaiming African glory, Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan is understood to be finalising an extensive preparation programme ahead of the tournament, which is scheduled to take place from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026.
According to reports from Botolat, Hassan has devised a comprehensive plan that includes intensive training camps and a series of friendly matches to sharpen the squad's technical and physical readiness.
Additionally, the Pharaohs' technical team is said to be closely analysing potential opponents to determine the best tactical approach for the competition.
The Pharaohs are also said to be planning on playing friendly matches to help their players prepare for the continental competition.
It has been suggested that the preparation plan will soon be officially submitted to Egyptian Football Association (EFA) president Hany Abu Rida for approval, as the North African giants look to provide the national team with the best possible support to challenge for the title.
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With seven titles to their name, the Pharaohs hold the record for having the most AFCON titles, with seven to their name. However, their last continental title was 15 years ago when they won the competition in Angola.