Pitso Mosimane Breaks Silence On Facing Benni McCarthy And Sends Urgent Message To South Africans

Mosimane Sends Strong Message to Bafana Bafana Ahead of Crucial Kenya Double-Header: ‘Staying on Top Is What Matters’

Bafana Bafana head coach Pitso Mosimane has made his priorities crystal clear ahead of South Africa’s crucial back-to-back encounters against Kenya in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers, insisting that maintaining their position at the top of the group must remain the team’s ultimate objective.

South Africa head into the two-match encounter with confidence after collecting maximum points from their opening two qualifying fixtures against Guinea and Eritrea. The results have placed Bafana at the summit of Group D with six points, giving Mosimane’s men an early advantage in their pursuit of qualification for the continental showpiece.

However, the experienced tactician understands that a promising start means little if his team cannot maintain consistency throughout the campaign.

Speaking ahead of the upcoming fixtures, Mosimane emphasised that Bafana’s biggest priority is to remain at the top of the standings when Matchday 6 arrives, rather than becoming distracted by other considerations.

“I think the most important points is that in Matchday 6, you must remain where you are now [top]. The rest don’t count that much,” Mosimane explained.

The former Mamelodi Sundowns mentor believes South Africa have already placed themselves in a favourable position, but understands that considerable work remains before their qualification ambitions can be secured.

He also acknowledged that the upcoming schedule presents several challenges, particularly with another difficult away encounter against Guinea still awaiting Bafana after the Kenya double-header.

“We have an opportunity because we are there now. So, it’s in our hands to make sure that we stay there, but the road to travel to Matchday 6 is a long, long way,” he added.

Despite South Africa’s encouraging start, Mosimane has cautioned his players against approaching the Kenya fixtures with complacency.

The Harambee Stars, coached by former Bafana Bafana striker Benni McCarthy, may not have enjoyed the strongest start to their qualifying campaign, but Mosimane believes their performances deserve respect.

Kenya opened their campaign with a 1-1 draw against Eritrea before suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat to Guinea away from home.

For Mosimane, that result demonstrates why South Africa cannot afford to underestimate their opponents.

He specifically highlighted Kenya’s ability to compete against a strong Guinea side, warning that the narrow defeat should not be overlooked when assessing the threat posed by McCarthy’s team.

South Africa will host Kenya on Friday, 13 November, before travelling to Nairobi for the return encounter on Tuesday, 17 November.

The double-header could prove particularly important in shaping the Group D standings as the qualification campaign progresses.

With Kenya already guaranteed a place at AFCON 2027 as one of the tournament’s co-hosts alongside Uganda and Tanzania, the competition for the remaining qualification opportunity carries additional significance.

For Mosimane, the message is straightforward: Bafana must remain focused, respect their opponents and protect their position at the top.

The upcoming matches offer South Africa an opportunity to strengthen their qualification ambitions, but the coach knows that consistency, discipline and the right mentality will ultimately determine whether his team reaches its target.

Source https://x.com/iDiskiTimes/status/2120826845067116984?a=pBOOmLO7NcR3E4IwcVA&s=19

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