A leading coach in the Betway Premiership has revealed a big reason why North African teams are coming for South African players.
A move by a South African player to North African teams is usually rare.
Phakamani Mahlambi became the first Mzansi star ever to play in Egypt in 2017 after he was signed by Al Ahly.
Although he struggled to adapt and was soon back after just one season, the success of Percy Tau at the same club has seemingly opened the minds of South Africans, even though his move was motivated by compatriot Pitso Mosimane being in charge.
In the current window, North African teams have shown appetite for local players, outbidding teams in the country, after Esperance secured the signature of Elias Mokwena from Sekhukhune United and are now linked with Polokwane City winger Oswin Appollis.
Algerian outfit CR Belouizdad also completed a shock transfer, acquiring Khanyisa Mayo from Cape Town City.
Mamelodi Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi has suggested that North African clubs want quick, nimble attackers for variety, because they've realized football on the continent, particularly in the North, struggles with pacy players behind the defence.
"There's a contrast that people are not aware of, that when we won the Champions League, we won it because we brought a different variation of strikers. We were playing with a Khama Billiat, a Percy Tau, to a certain extent a [Leonardo] Castro," Mngqithi said on 947's MSW.
"But speed and dribbling is what helped us. If you bring that sort of a striker [big and physical] against North Africans, that's what they're used to every week. They are used to big strikers, people who will challenge aerially and physically.
"But when you bring speed, that is what has made Percy Tau a very successful striker in Africa because he brings that element. That's why Esperance have seen [and signed Mokwana]. That's why they want Appollis and all these youngsters because they've realized speed and intensity in that area will help.
"In Africa, there's space behind. I don't remember out of the top five teams, one of them who's got quick defenders," Mngqithi added.
PSL coaches have also been enticed to North Africa after Rulani Mokwena was appointed by Wydad Casablanca and their rivals Raja Casablanca agreed a deal in principle to appoint TS Galaxy head coach Sead Ramovic, but the agreement collapsed in the advanced stages.