Benni McCarthy’s Harambee Stars are confident after an unexpected draw in Soweto last Friday. A late equaliser earned the East Africans a 2-2 draw.
It was the first time South Africa dropped points in their 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign under Pitso Mosimane.
BENNI MCCARTHY EXPECTS CHALLENGING CONDITIONS FOr BAFANA BAFANA
Pitso Mosimane’s Bafana Bafana entered the match with a three-point advantage at the top of Group D. That gap has now been reduced to one point, although South Africa remain in first place.
Kenya are second from bottom with two points. They have already qualified for the AFCON tournament as co-hosts. Bafana Bafana still need to finish in the top two to secure their place.
McCarthy now wants his players to make better use of home advantage when the teams meet again at the Nyayo National Stadium.
The former Bafana striker believes the conditions in Kenya could also work in his team’s favour.
McCarthy has raised the issue of altitude and climate. He is suggesting that South Africa’s players may need time to adjust when they arrive in Nairobi.
“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.
McCarthy believes Kenya must start the match with more purpose and put Bafana under pressure from the beginning.
SOUTh AFRiCA ATTACKERS CAUSE KENYA PROBLEMS
Despite being pleased with the draw, McCarthy admitted that South Africa had several players who gave his defence a difficult evening.
He mentioned Oswin Appollis, Tshepang Moremi, Relebohile Mofokeng and Iqraam Rayners as some of the players Kenya will have to watch closely in the return fixture.
“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.”
Kenya know they cannot afford to give Bafana too much space in attacking areas, but McCarthy also wants his team to take the game to their opponents.
South Africa will arrive in Nairobi looking to recover the points they dropped in Soweto.
Mosimane’s team still lead the group, but another difficult evening could change the situation at the top.