BAFANA BAFANA
Smiso Msomi|Published
Bafana Bafana will host Benni McCarthy’s Kenya at Orlando Amstel Arena in Johannesburg for the first of their back-to-back 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers next month.
South Africa will welcome the Harambee Stars on Friday, November 13, with kick-off scheduled for 6pm, before travelling to Nairobi for the return fixture on Tuesday, November 17.
The double-header promises an intriguing contest, with McCarthy facing his home country for the first time since taking charge of Kenya, while Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane will come up against his former national team striker in a battle between two of South African football’s prominent figures.
McCarthy’s Kenya will be looking to disrupt Bafana’s strong start to their qualifying campaign, while Mosimane’s side will aim to maintain their position at the top of Group D.
Bafana sit at the summit after winning both of their opening qualifiers in September. Mosimane’s charges began with a 2–1 victory over Guinea in Johannesburg before producing an emphatic 5–0 win over Eritrea in Cairo.
South Africa also defeated Egypt 1–0 in an international friendly during the same window, completing a perfect run of three victories.
Those results have helped Bafana climb to 48th in the latest FIFA World Rankings, placing them 10th among African nations.
The upcoming fixtures against Kenya will be particularly important in shaping the Group D standings as the qualifying campaign progresses.
Mosimane is expected to announce his preliminary squad in the coming days as Bafana begin preparations for the two encounters.
With McCarthy returning to South Africa in opposition colours and Mosimane looking to maintain his winning start, the November fixtures promise to be a significant test for both coaches.
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