South Africa arrived in Cairo on Thursday with a new-look squad, featuring some reinforcements, while other players – such as Monnapule Saleng, who was outstanding in Bloemfontein during the first leg –have been released to their clubs, including Orlando Pirates.

The tie remains deadlocked at 1-1 following the first leg a week ago at the Toyota Stadium.

Neo Maema. Photo: Morgan Piek

Playing in Egypt – whether in a club or international fixture – is never easy, as the hosts always rely on their passionate and often hostile home support to act as a 12th player on the pitch.

Bloemfontein-born Bafana captain Neo Maema told OFM Sport they expect to be tested to the maximum, but after a tough journey and with fresh, energetic faces in the camp, they are confident of pulling off a win and advancing to the next round.

“Yeah, it’s going to be very tough – we know that playing against Egypt is always a challenge,” said the Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder.

"We have a decent record against them, but playing away from home, in their backyard, is never easy.

“The guys are looking forward to it. We want to make sure we do our best for the country and secure a spot in the next round, especially in the group stages of the competition. It was a long trip, but by the grace of God, we arrived safely.

Monnapule Saleng. Photo: Morgan Piek

“The team is ready. The new and younger players, experiencing Egypt for the first time, are excited and hungry. The energy is high, and while we expect a difficult match, we believe we can overcome the challenge as a team.”

Sunday’s match between the Pharaohs and South Africa at the Suez Canal Stadium in Ismailia is set to kick off at 21:30.

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek dg