Bafana Must Beat Kenya Twice This Month or Risk Missing Out on AFCON 2027

South Africa’s Bafana Bafana face a make-or-break double-header against Kenya this month, with coach Pitso Mosimane warning that two wins are essential to stay on course for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

The national team hosts the Harambee Stars at Orlando Amstel Arena in Soweto on Friday, 13 November, before travelling to Nairobi for the return fixture on Tuesday, 17 November. Both matches form part of the AFCON 2027 qualifying campaign in Group D.

Kenya has already secured its place at the finals as one of the three co-hosts, alongside Uganda and Tanzania. That leaves only one additional qualification spot available in the group. Bafana and Guinea are now locked in a direct battle for that single ticket, with Eritrea trailing far behind.

Bafana currently sit at the top of the table with six points from two matches. They opened the campaign with a 2-1 victory over Guinea in Johannesburg and followed it with a convincing 5-0 win against Eritrea. Guinea sits on three points after two games and is widely expected to collect maximum points from its two upcoming fixtures against Eritrea.

Speaking ahead of the Kenya matches, Mosimane kept the message simple and direct. “It is all in our hands,” he said, stressing that the squad cannot afford to drop points in either game. With Guinea likely to take six points from Eritrea, any slip-up against Kenya would leave Bafana needing near-perfect results in March 2027 to keep qualification hopes alive.

The home fixture offers a clear opportunity to build momentum in front of local support, while the away game in Nairobi will test the team’s character on the road. Kenya, coached by former Bafana striker Benni McCarthy, has nothing to lose as it is already through to the tournament and can play without pressure.

A pair of victories would take Bafana to 12 points after four matches and give them a healthy cushion heading into the final round of qualifiers. Anything less risks handing the initiative to Guinea and turning the remaining fixtures into high-stakes must-wins.

For Mosimane and his players, the equation is straightforward. Two wins against Kenya this month keep the AFCON 2027 dream firmly in South African hands. Failure to deliver could see the national team miss out on the continental showpiece for the first time in years.

Source: https://x.com/KickOffMagazine/status/2120515208149930168?a=aNthP9l1ZUFcMQ4uV74&s=19