Olwethu Makhanya’s rise in the South Africa setup has picked up pace at exactly the right moment. He collected his second senior cap in the 2-1 win over Guinea, and the defender is now in line for another test when South Africa face Egypt after a window that has turned promise into something more concrete.
That is why Egypt Vs South Africa is drawing attention now. South Africa arrive in confident mood after recent results, including the 5-0 win over Eritrea and the important victory over Guinea, and Makhanya has been one of the players pushing that momentum. He started against a Guinea side that included Borussia Dortmund striker Serhou Guirassy, and Pitso Mosimane said Makhanya, Kamogelo Sebelebele and Ime Okon were very good.
Mosimane’s praise carried more weight because he pointed to the level of the challenge Makhanya faced and the way he answered it. He said the young defender was up against a striker from Borussia Dortmund who is full of quality, and that he handled him very well. He also said these were players who were part of the World Cup but did not play and now have to be given a chance to show themselves. For South Africa, that is more than a flattering line. It is a sign that the next layer of the squad is starting to look ready.
Makhanya partnered Ime Okon in defence, and the pair have already featured together in recent matches, including the 5-0 victory over Eritrea. Okon has spoken about the value of that continuity, saying the academies have been doing well over the past few years in bringing players into the setup. He also called Egypt one of the biggest teams in Africa and said players always want to play the best teams and challenge themselves. That is the sort of chance Makhanya is stepping toward now.
There is still a contradiction hanging over the camp, though. The mood around the team is confident, yet it has been described as arriving amid a crisis. The details of that crisis are not spelled out, but the football on the field suggests a side trying to move forward anyway, helped by results and by a growing belief that the younger players can hold their own. South Africa’s return to the FIFA top 50 for the first time in more than a decade only adds to the sense that the team is building something, even as the background remains unsettled.
What comes next is the part that matters for Makhanya. South Africa will face Egypt, and he is now being backed to continue his international progress against a bigger opponent than the one he met against Guinea. The match date is not confirmed in the available details, but the direction is clear enough: a young defender who has already earned trust is being asked to keep proving he belongs.
