Bafana Bafana open their AFCON 2027 qualifying campaign against Guinea at Orlando Stadium in Soweto on Saturday, 26 September, in Pitso Mosimane’s first match since returning as head coach.
According to SAFA, the match kicks off at 15:00. South Africa then travel to Cairo to face Eritrea in their second Group D qualifier on Wednesday, 30 September, before rounding off the international break with a friendly against Egypt in Cairo on Sunday, 4 October.
Bafana Bafana AFCON 2027 qualifiers: September fixtures confirmed
The first match of the window is South Africa against Guinea at Orlando Stadium on Saturday, 26 September, at 15:00. It is the opening fixture of Bafana Bafana’s Group D campaign and Mosimane’s first competitive game in his second spell in charge of the national team.
South Africa face Eritrea at Al-Salam Stadium in Cairo on Wednesday, 30 September, at 18:00. As reported by SABC Sport, Eritrea does not have a stadium that meets CAF and FIFA requirements for international matches, so the country plays its home qualifiers in other African countries.
The window closes with a friendly against Egypt at Cairo International Stadium on Sunday, 4 October, at 20:00. The two sides last met in December 2025, when Egypt won 1-0 through a Mohamed Salah penalty, per Briefly News.
“Matches against Egypt are always tough, and we do not expect anything less in this latest instalment.”
Danny Jordaan, SAFA president
Why this international break matters
These matches mark the start of qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda from 19 June to 17 July 2027. South Africa are in Group D alongside Guinea, Eritrea and Kenya.
Kenya have already qualified as co-hosts, which means South Africa, Guinea and Eritrea are competing for one remaining place, as reported by African Insider.
Each team plays six matches, home and away, across international windows running until March 2027, with Bafana Bafana set to face Kenya in November.
With only one place available among the three non-host sides, every result carries weight. The opener against Guinea is followed by the reverse fixture in Guinea in March 2027, which closes the group campaign for South Africa.
Pitso Mosimane’s final squad
Mosimane named his first squad on 17 September, cutting a 35-man preliminary list down to 30 players. TimesLIVE reported that the squad includes Yanela Mbuthuma and Cassius Mailula, while Fawaaz Basadien, Lebone Seema, Brooklyn Poggenpoel and Tashreeq Matthews also earned call-ups.
The goalkeepers are Ronwen Williams, Sipho Chaine and Ricardo Goss. The defenders are Aubrey Modiba, Samukele Kabini, Fawaaz Basadien, Kamogelo Sebelebele, Thapelo Morena, Thabang Matuludi, Olwethu Makhanya, Khulumani Ndamane, Ime Okon, Lebone Seema and Nkosinathi Sibisi.
The midfielders are Teboho Mokoena, Lebogang Maboe, Sphephelo Sithole, Bathusi Aubaas and Brooklyn Poggenpoel.
The forwards are Iqraam Rayners, Yanela Mbuthuma, Cassius Mailula, Oswin Appollis, Puso Dithejane, Tashreeq Matthews, Relebohile Mofokeng, Themba Zwane, Thapelo Maseko, Luther Singh and Shandre Campbell.
Speaking at the squad announcement, Mosimane said he had kept the core of the team that played at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but that five players were unavailable through injury and that he wanted to give younger players an opportunity.
“Two qualifiers, one friendly. Everyone understands the importance of the qualifiers. But Egypt are also a big gun.”
Pitso Mosimane, Bafana Bafana coach, per Goal
Mosimane explains Lyle Foster omission
One notable absence is Lyle Foster, who recently joined Houston Dynamo on loan from Burnley. According to IOL, Mosimane said he had spoken to the striker personally and left him out because of a lack of regular game time at club level.
“I spoke to him personally; he hasn’t been playing, he’s not on the team sheet and hasn’t played any friendly games, just a few minutes here and there, and he has moved (to a new team as well). The last time we saw him play was in Mexico.”
Pitso Mosimane, Bafana Bafana coach, per IOL
Pitso Mosimane’s return to Bafana Bafana
SAFA confirmed Mosimane as coach on 1 September after extended negotiations, as reported by Daily Maverick. He replaced Hugo Broos, who led South Africa to their first World Cup in 16 years, where they were knocked out in the round of 32.
Broos cited the strain of being away from his family in Belgium.
Mosimane previously coached Bafana Bafana from 2010 to 2012. He has since won the CAF Champions League once with Mamelodi Sundowns and twice with Egypt’s Al Ahly, which makes the two matches in Cairo a return to familiar ground for the 62-year-old coach.
Bafana Bafana AFCON 2027 qualifiers: How to watch live in South Africa
SAFA has not yet confirmed which broadcaster will carry the three matches in South Africa.
The SABC held the rights to the AFCON 2025 qualifiers and has previously shown Bafana Bafana’s qualifiers on SABC 3, SABC+ and SABCSport.com, and Swisher Post will update this page once the broadcast details are confirmed.
Fans who want to watch the Guinea match in person can buy tickets through Ticketpro. SAFA has priced adult tickets at R100 and tickets for children under 12 at R40, with at least one adult ticket required for every child ticket purchase.
Hospitality packages are also available.
“We encourage families and fans to come in their numbers to support the team as we begin this new era under coach Pitso Mosimane.”
Danny Jordaan, SAFA president
After this window, Bafana Bafana’s next AFCON 2027 qualifiers are against Kenya in November, for which Mosimane will name a new squad.
The group campaign ends in March 2027 with the away trip to Guinea, three months before the tournament kicks off in East Africa.
- SAFA president Danny Jordaan, statements on the Guinea and Egypt matches
- Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane, squad announcement press conference
- SAFA fixtures listing
- SAFA announcement on Orlando Stadium and tickets
- Goal reporting on the final squad announcement
- TimesLIVE reporting on the squad and Mosimane's record
- IOL reporting on Lyle Foster's omission
- SABC Sport reporting on the Eritrea venue
- Daily Maverick reporting on Mosimane's appointment
- Briefly News reporting on the Egypt friendly
- African Insider reporting on the Group D format
- News24 reporting on SABC's CAF broadcast rights
This story is based on SAFA's official fixture listings and statements, Pitso Mosimane's squad announcement, and reporting by Goal, TimesLIVE, IOL, SABC Sport, Daily Maverick and Briefly News. SAFA has not yet confirmed which broadcaster will carry the three matches in South Africa, and the players ruled out through injury have not been named.
