SAFA have confirmed that the Orlando Amstel Arena in Soweto will host the first leg of Bafana Bafana’s back-to-back 2027 Africa Cup of Nations [AFCON] qualifiers against Kenya next month.
Pitso Mosimane’s charges will welcome Benni McCarthy’s side on Friday, 13 November 2026, with kickoff set for 18h00.
After the encounter in Soweto, South Africa will travel to Nairobi for the return leg fixture scheduled for Tuesday, 17 November 2026.
The back-to-back AFCON qualifiers carry extra significance, as it marks the first time McCarthy will face his home country as head coach of the East African side.
To top it off, this match will also present a fascinating tactical battle on home soil between two of South Africa’s most respected tacticians, Mosimane and McCarthy.
Mosimane has already revealed that McCarthy won’t make things easier for South Africa when the two nations meet.
“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,” Mosimane said after their 1-0 win against Egypt on 4 October 2026.
“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.”
BAFANA BAFANA’S STRONG QUALIFYING FORM
Bafana head into next month’s game comfortably at the summit of Group D after kicking off their qualifiers with a stellar run in September 2026.
Mosimane’s troops began their campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Guinea at the very same venue before securing a dominant 5-0 thrashing of Eritrea in Egypt.
South Africa’s momentum continued with a 1-0 win over Egypt in their friendly match in Cairo during the recent FIFA international window.
These results helped South Africa climb to 48th in the FIFA World Rankings and secure 10th on the continental list.
Mosimane is expected to announce his preliminary squad in the coming days for the Group D encounters.
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