OK, SO HERE’S the weekend checklist: braaipack, beers, extra ice, charcoal … matches?

Yes, you know where this is going, don’t you?

Armchair sportspersons are in for a treat this weekend with a bumper sporting weekend all shaken up and ready to pop its cork!

South African sport takes centre stage on Friday as Bafana Bafana and the Springboks face important international assignments, but it doesn’t end there; they are part of a packed programme stretching across African football, world rugby, cricket and tennis.

First off, Bafana host Kenya in an AFCON 2027 qualifier at Orlando Amstel Arena at 6pm, while the Springboks take on France in Paris at 10.10pm in the Nations Championship.

There is plenty at stake in both matches, with the wider competitions adding further interest for supporters following the international action.

Friday's meeting is the first of back-to-back matches between South Africa and Kenya, with the return fixture scheduled for Nairobi on Tuesday, November 17. 

Kenya are co-hosts of the 2027 tournament but oddly enough remain involved in the qualifying programme. One wonders why another African nation was not given a shot.

Anyway, the Bafana fixture is part of a 48-match programme across the third and fourth qualifying rounds, with 24 matches scheduled for each round. Among Friday’s other fixtures are Egypt vs Malawi, Nigeria vs Tanzania, Mali vs Rwanda, Morocco vs Niger, Tunisia vs Libya and Burkina Faso vs Mauritania. Côte d'Ivoire face Gambia on Thursday, while Senegal meet Sudan.

See why I said that the refrigerator had to be stocked?

The return fixtures on Monday and Tuesday include Malawi vs Egypt, Gambia vs Côte d'Ivoire, Tanzania vs Nigeria, Rwanda vs Mali, Niger vs Morocco and Kenya vs South Africa.

The Springboks have an equally important assignment against France, but arrive in Paris in impressive form. They have won all four of their Nations Championship matches, including a 66-7 demolition of Italy last weekend.

The French will provide a formidable test on home soil. They beat Fiji 54-17 in their previous outing and will be keen to finish the northern hemisphere leg strongly.

The other Round 5 matches are Italy vs Argentina, Wales vs New Zealand, England vs Japan, Ireland vs Fiji and Scotland vs Australia. Wales host New Zealand on Saturday afternoon, before England meet Japan and Ireland take on Fiji. Scotland and Australia round off the weekend on Sunday.

The Boks face Ireland in Dublin on November 21 before the Nations Championship reaches its finals weekend in London from November 27 to 29.

South Africa enter the series as the world's top-ranked Test team after their 2-1 series victory over Australia, sealed with a 176-run win in the deciding Test at Newlands.

Temba Bavuma will captain a 15-man squad that includes several important returns. Tony de Zorzi is back after recovering from a hamstring injury, Zubayr Hamza has been included, and fast bowler Anrich Nortje returns after a groin injury. Lungi Ngidi remains unavailable while continuing his rehabilitation.

Bangladesh have named a 16-man squad under Najmul Hossain Shanto, with five specialist fast bowlers in Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam, Ebadot Hossain and Khaled Ahmed.

The visitors have clearly prepared for conditions expected to favour pace and bounce. Uncapped batter Mahfijul Islam has earned his first call-up, while Mohammad Naim returns to the Test side after last playing in 2022.

Looking much further ahead, the second Test will be played at SuperSport Park in Centurion from November 23 to 27.

Spain lead Group A3 with 12 points from four matches and have already secured a quarter-final place. England are second on nine points and will qualify for the last eight if they avoid defeat against Croatia. Sunday's meeting with the group leaders will be another major test.

There are several other important fixtures across the competition. Friday's programme includes Netherlands vs Greece, Serbia vs Germany, Scotland vs North Macedonia and Slovenia vs Switzerland.

Saturday brings Norway vs Wales, Portugal vs Denmark, Northern Ireland vs Ukraine, Austria vs Republic of Ireland, Romania vs Poland and Sweden vs Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Sunday's other League A matches include Belgium vs Italy, France vs Türkiye and Croatia vs Czechia, alongside Spain vs England. The remaining fixtures are Cyprus vs Montenegro, Latvia vs Armenia, Belarus vs Albania and Finland vs San Marino.

Australia and England meet in the first two matches of their three-game ODI series, with the opener in Perth on Friday and the second match in Adelaide on Sunday. Both begin at 5.30am SAST.

The Nitto ATP Finals also get under way in Turin on Sunday, bringing together the eight leading men's singles players of the season. Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz, Ben Shelton, Daniil Medvedev, Flavio Cobolli, Arthur Fils, Frances Tiafoe and Rafael Jodar make up the field.

The round-robin stage runs until November 20, with the semi-finals on November 21 and the final on November 22.

It is a weekend in which South Africa's national teams will command much of the attention, but there will be no shortage of international sport for supporters to follow.

Make sure, therefore, that the snacks and the beverages do not run out.