Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane still carries heavy demands on his shoulders after the confirmation of the team’s next Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. The national side will host Kenya at the Orlando Amstel Arena on 13 November at 18:00, before travelling to Nairobi for the return match four days later.

The two early wins against Guinea and Eritrea gave Bafana a perfect start in Group D and put them on six points. Those results, plus a friendly victory over Egypt, have lifted South Africa to 48th in the FIFA rankings — their highest position since October 2011. Kenya sit much lower at 114th.

Because Kenya are already guaranteed a place at the 2027 finals as one of the three host nations, the group is effectively a three-team race for a single ticket. Bafana and Guinea are the sides fighting for that remaining spot. Guinea are expected to take maximum points from their two matches against Eritrea in November. That would leave the West Africans on nine points and set up a likely decisive meeting in Conakry in March 2027.

Mosimane’s men therefore need six points from the Kenya double-header. Anything less leaves the door open for Guinea. Even after those games, the campaign remains difficult. The format is cruel for groups that contain host nations: only one of Bafana or Guinea can qualify, so a team could finish with 15 points from 18 and still miss out.

The safest route for South Africa is clear. Collect six points against Kenya, avoid defeat in Guinea, and then beat Eritrea at home. That would take Bafana to 16 points and place them ahead of Guinea no matter what else happens. Anything short of that path means Mosimane and his players must keep watching the results of their rivals right until the final whistle.

The November fixtures also carry extra interest because Kenya are coached by former Bafana striker Benni McCarthy. He will face his home country for the first time in the role and will come up against Mosimane on South African soil. For the Bafana coach, however, the bigger picture remains the same. The early wins have created a strong platform, but the demands of this qualifying campaign have not eased. Qualification for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations is still far from certain, and Mosimane knows the next few months will test both his side and his own second spell in charge.

Source: https://x.com/KickOffMagazine/status/2113211312138342773