The Pharaohs have in fact not beaten Bafana Bafana on the banks of the River Nile since 2003, which to date remains their only win over them in four attempts in the city.
Bafana famously beat Egypt there in the round of 16 at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, sending shockwaves through Egyptian football as Thembinkosi Lorch’s goal proved decisive.
They also drew 0-0 there in an AFCON qualifier in 2011 when current coach Pitso Mosimane was at the helm, and won 2-1 ahead of the 2006 AFCON under Ted Dumitru. That proved a false dawn as they bombed at the finals themselves, losing all three games without scoring a goal.
South Africa also beat Egypt 3-1 in an African Nations Championship qualifier in 2025, meaning their record in the North African nation is three wins, one draw and a single defeat.
There are not many teams on the continent who can claim to have rumbled the Egyptians so often in their own back yard.
Egypt did win the most recent meeting, though, in Agadir, Morocco, during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations finals. A disputed Mohamed Salah penalty settled that one in a game in which Bafana dominated possession but failed to create too many clear-cut chances against their 10-man opponents.
Egypt's victory at the recent AFCON ended a six-match unbeaten sequence for South Africa against the Pharaohs.
Overall, Bafana have eight wins, two draws and five defeats from their 15 meetings with the Egyptians, scoring 15 goals and conceding 11.
Pitso Mosimane has faced Egypt three times previously as Bafana coach, namely a 1-0 friendly loss in London in 2006, a 1-0 AFCON qualifier win at Ellis Park in March 2011 and a 0-0 draw in Cairo three months later in the return fixture.
He is a respected figure in Egypt from his time at Al Ahly, who he led to two CAF Champions League titles, and will know what it takes to beat this Egyptian side again.
Benni McCarthy is South Africa's leading scorer against Egypt with four goals, while Shaun Bartlett is the only other player to net more than once against them, with two.
At the other end of the pitch, former Bafana goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune never conceded against the Egyptians in three previous clashes.
These games are generally extremely tight, as 10 of the 13 matches that have produced a winner were decided by a single goal. Eleven of the 15 meetings produced two goals or fewer, and there have been only 26 goals in total in those 15 matches.
Neither country has ever beaten the other by more than two goals.
Salah has appeared against South Africa three times. Bafana won the first two meetings 1-0 before Salah finally scored against them from the penalty spot in December 2025.
Sunday’s clash is due to kick-off at 20h00 South African time.