Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane is not getting carried away by their promising start to the 2027 AFCON qualifiers, warning that “we haven’t arrived” as South Africa prepare for back-to-back clashes against Benni McCarthy’s Kenya in November.
Speaking to SAFA media after Bafana beat Egypt 1-0 in an international friendly match in Cairo on Sunday, Mosimane opted to be cautious following a three-match winning streak. After opening the qualification campaign by edging Guinea 2-1 at Orlando Amstel Arena, Bafana went on to beat Eritrea 5-0 away from home to seize control of Group D. The win over Egypt also saw South Africa presenting themselves as a solid outfit under Mosimane, who took over from Hugo Broos.
The former Mamelodi Sundowns is now riding on a wave of three wins in as many matches on his return for a second stint with the national side. But in the AFCON qualifiers, Bafana are in a tricky group that includes 2027 tournament co-host Kenya, leaving only one team to qualify from this pool.
That makes finishing top of the table a must for the three other teams, including Bafana, who assumed the driving seat early in the campaign. They now host Kenya on November 11, before facing the same side away four days later.
MOSIMANE WARY OF BENNI MCCARTHY’S WOUNDED KENYA
Kenya are under Bafana legend McCarthy and they drew 1-1 with Eritrea before losing 1-0 to Guinea, with both matches played at home. That leaves them at the bottom of the table while Guinea are second and Eritrea third.
If Bafana beat Kenya at home and away, it will take them closer to qualification ahead of the trip to Guinea and hosting Eritrea in March 2027.
“Football is not how you start, but how you finish. I’m a very conservative coach, and I have nerves of steel. This thing has to come where it comes, we have to qualify for AFCON,” Mosimane told SAFA media.
“It looks good now, but we haven’t arrived. We have got Kenya back-to-back. So, that’s where everything will be, and Benni will never allow us to win. He is a fighter by profession, in football, he is a fighter.
“Benni has a big heart for football. It’s going to be difficult for us. Those two games will determine our fate before we go to Guinea. Let’s see how we deal with Kenya.”
MOSIMANE ON BAFANA’S INJURY SITUATION
The just-ended Bafana camp saw Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Lebohang Maboe being released due to injury. Nkosinathi Sibisi missed out on the AFCON qualifiers with fitness concerns, while Teboho Mokoena and Bathusi Aubaas also got injured in the middle of camp.
But Mosimane is adamant they will be back to full fitness ahead of the November assignments. This is despite the possibility of some players getting injured while on club duty in the run-up to the next FIFA international period.
“I hope those injured will come back. I saw [Mbekezeli] Mbokazi playing, Teboho is not bad, he will also come back to play,” the former Al Ahly coach added.
“We played Sibisi for the last five minutes because I must make sure since he was coming back from injury. He also has a cup final.
“So we needed to protect these two teams who are going to play in the final so that no one should say we are favourites. I was afraid that Sibisi might create a problem and I know that Orlando Pirates need him.
“Aubrey trained in the last training session [ahead of the Egypt match], so we have to support and make sure that everybody is good. I’m happy the three goalkeepers played. That’s good. Lebone came out very nice.”
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