The South African Football Association (SAFA) has announced the venue for Bafana Bafana’s first home encounter against Kenya in the upcoming back-to-back qualifiers for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

South Africa are scheduled to host Kenya on Friday, 13 November 2026, before travelling to Nairobi for the return fixture on Tuesday, 17 November. The first encounter is scheduled to kick off at 6pm, with both teams expected to battle for crucial points in their quest to qualify for the continental tournament.

According to the announcement, the opening match will take place at Orlando Amstel Arena in Johannesburg, setting the stage for an intriguing contest between two national teams seeking to strengthen their positions in the AFCON qualifying campaign.

The fixture will attract particular attention because Kenya are coached by former Bafana Bafana striker Benni McCarthy, who will face his home country for the first time since taking charge of the East African national team.

McCarthy is a familiar figure in South African football, having enjoyed a distinguished playing career before moving into coaching. His return to South Africa as Kenya’s head coach will add an emotional dimension to the encounter, although his primary objective will be to guide his current team to a positive result.

The match will also bring McCarthy up against Pitso Mosimane, who is reportedly leading Bafana Bafana in his latest spell as head coach. The tactical battle between the two coaches is expected to be one of the major talking points ahead of the encounter.

South Africa will approach the qualifiers with confidence after making an impressive start to their campaign. Mosimane’s men currently sit at the top of Group D after winning both of their AFCON qualifying matches in September.

Maintaining that momentum will be important for Bafana Bafana as they seek to secure qualification for the 2027 tournament. A victory against Kenya on home soil would strengthen their position in the group and provide an ideal platform ahead of the return fixture in Nairobi.

However, Kenya are expected to provide a competitive challenge, particularly under McCarthy’s leadership. The Harambee Stars will be eager to secure a favourable result away from home before welcoming South Africa for the second leg.

With the two matches scheduled just four days apart, both teams will also need to manage their players carefully and make effective tactical decisions throughout the international window.

For South African supporters, the Johannesburg encounter presents an opportunity to watch Bafana Bafana continue their qualification campaign on home soil. For McCarthy, it will be a significant occasion as he returns to face the country where he made his name as a footballer.

The two-legged contest could prove decisive in shaping the teams’ prospects in Group D as the race for places at the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations intensifies.

Source; https://x.com/MDNnewss/status/2111160227571585132