Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane has warned his charges against underestimating Kenya ahead of their eagerly anticipated 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Group D qualifier at the Orlando Amstel Arena on Friday night.
With South African supporters counting down the hours to kick-off, Mosimane expects a tricky encounter against a Kenyan side that has already secured its place at next year’s continental showpiece as one of the co-hosts.
“It is a tricky one as we are playing against a team that has got nothing to lose, because they have already qualified for AFCON,” Mosimane said.
The 2027 AFCON tournament, branded Pamoja 2027, will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda from June 19 to July 17.
Bafana Bafana head into Friday’s encounter sitting at the top of Group D after making a strong start to their qualifying campaign in September. Mosimane’s men defeated Guinea 2-1 in Johannesburg before producing an emphatic 5-0 victory over Eritrea in Egypt.
Captain Ronwen Williams believes the team must maintain its momentum as the pressure mounts.
“The main focus now is Kenya tomorrow. It will be tough, it is going to be a challenge for many reasons, but we are up for it. We started well and we need to maintain that,” Williams said.
Meanwhile, Kenya coach Benni McCarthy will be hoping to celebrate his 49th birthday in style after marking the occasion on Thursday.
The former Bafana Bafana striker has challenged his players to rise to the occasion and frustrate the hosts, despite Kenya’s difficult start to the qualifying campaign.
“Let Bafana Bafana sweat a little bit, let them sweat because we lost against Guinea in the previous round and we drew with Eritrea. So, it looks like a walk in the park, but I think the performance, the attitude and mentality of the players will show tomorrow and we can build for AFCON next year,” McCarthy said.
With Bafana looking to consolidate their position at the summit of Group D and Kenya eager to prove their competitiveness, Friday’s encounter promises to be a stern test for Mosimane’s men.
Ticket information
Tickets for the AFCON qualifier remain on sale, with supporters able to purchase them at the following prices:
Adults: R100
Children aged 5–12: R40
With home support expected to play a crucial role, Bafana will be looking to deliver another convincing performance in front of their supporters.