Kenya coach Benni McCarthy has issued a subtle warning to Bafana Bafana ahead of Pitso Mosimane’s side visiting Nairobi for Tuesday’s 2027 AFCON qualifier at Nyayo National Stadium.
After the two sides settled for a 2-2 draw at Orlando Amstel Arena on Friday, they switch the battlefield to Nairobi. McCarthy orchestrated a draw which saw Bafana drop points for the first time in Group D following a winning start to this qualification campaign.
South Africa remain top of the group, though their lead has been trimmed to a single point after entering matchday three with a three-point cushion at the summit. Their East African opponents sit second from the bottom on two points.
While Kenya are already guaranteed a spot at AFCON as tournament co-hosts, Bafana are pushing for a top two finish in Group D to qualify.
BENNI MCCARTHY RAISES CONCERN FOR BAFANA BUT WARY OF SOUTH AFRICA’S ATTACKERS
Despite Nairobi and Johannesburg having a similar average elevation of 1.8 metres above sea level, McCarthy raises the issue of altitude as potentially affecting Bafana when they land in Kenya. Also, while Betway Premiership players have had to endure a heat wave in recent weeks, they could find Kenya cooler, conditions that overseas-based players would likely be fine with.
“When we go home, it will be different. It will be roles reversed. I’m not sure if South Africa will be accustomed to the altitude, the climate that’s in Kenya,” McCarthy told the media at Orlando Amstel Arena after Friday’s draw.
“Our players are accustomed to what’s there. So, we will be looking to take the game to them because we have seen that when we want to play, we can play. We just have to do that from the first minute of the game when we are at home and take the game to them. But also, be aware of the threats and danger that they pose because the shorties [forwards] they have up front can run.
“Their movements are quality. Ossie [Oswin Appollis], Tshepang [Moremi], Rele [Mofokeng] and Iqraam [Rayners] gave us a lot of problems; they gave us headaches.
“So we are happy that the game was able to finish and we got a point. We have to be aware of the threat they pose when they come to Kenya.”
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