Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane has dismissed suggestions that Kenya head coach Benni McCarthy could enjoy a tactical advantage over South Africa ahead of their two upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying encounters, despite his extensive knowledge of South African football and several players in the national team setup.

South Africa are preparing for two important Group D fixtures against Kenya, with the first encounter scheduled to take place at Orlando Stadium next week before the teams meet again in Kenya on November 17.

Bafana Bafana currently lead their qualifying group and will be determined to strengthen their position as they target a third consecutive appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations, having participated in the 2023 and 2025 tournaments. Kenya, meanwhile, have already secured automatic qualification as co-hosts but will still be eager to produce positive results.

McCarthy's familiarity with South African football has raised questions about whether he could use his experience and knowledge of Bafana players to his advantage. However, Mosimane believes that modern football has made it increasingly difficult for coaches to gain a decisive advantage simply by knowing their opponents.

Speaking after announcing his squad, Mosimane explained that extensive video analysis and scouting resources allow technical teams to study virtually every opponent.

He used European giants Barcelona, Arsenal and Bayern Munich as examples, pointing out that their playing styles are widely understood, yet opponents still struggle to defeat them.

Mosimane further explained that knowing McCarthy's tactical preferences only provides useful information rather than guaranteeing an advantage.

He also warned that coaches can change their approaches depending on their opponents, using Orlando Pirates as an example of a team that can surprise opponents despite being familiar with their playing style.

The upcoming encounters will therefore test both technical teams, with Mosimane determined to ensure Bafana maintain their position at the top of Group D.

Source

https://www.idiskitimes.co.za/bafana-bafana/pitso-shrugs-off-benni-intel-on-how-bafana-plays/