Pitso Mosimane is the new head coach of Bafana Bafana. Here are his confirmed opening six fixtures.
Mosimane returns for his second permanent stint in charge of Bafana Bafana following the departure of Hugo Broos.
His return comes with little time to settle in, however, with SAFA confirming the first six fixtures of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualification campaign.
The new coach already knows exactly what lies ahead.
South Africa have been drawn in a challenging qualification group that includes Guinea, Eritrea and co-hosts Kenya. Kenya’s automatic qualification for the tournament means only one other team from Group I will secure a place at the 2027 AFCON finals.
That leaves little room for error. Mosimane’s first competitive assignment will come on 23 September 2026 when Bafana Bafana host Guinea.
Four days later, they travel to face Eritrea at a neutral venue. The November international window will then bring a crucial double-header against Kenya, with South Africa hosting the first encounter on 11 November before travelling away four days later.
Bafana will complete the qualification phase in March 2027. They face Guinea away on 24 March before concluding their campaign against Eritrea at home on 28 March.
23 September 2026: South Africa
vs
Guinea
— Home
27 September 2026: Eritrea
vs
South Africa
— Away, neutral venue
11 November 2026: South Africa
vs
Kenya
— Home
15 November 2026: Kenya
vs
South Africa
— Away
24 March 2027: Guinea
vs
South Africa
— Away
28 March 2027: South Africa
vs
Eritrea
— Home.
Mosimane’s return comes at an important moment for Bafana Bafana.
The national team are coming off a historic 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign under Broos, reaching the knockout stages for the first time in their history.
The new coach must therefore build on that progress while ensuring that South Africa qualify for another major tournament. There is little room for a lengthy bedding-in period.
With the first qualifier against Guinea less than a month away, Mosimane will immediately have to assess his squad, establish his tactical approach and prepare the team for a demanding qualification campaign.
The coach acknowledged the urgency during his presentation at SAFA House. “There is no time to celebrate or ease into the job. The first six matches are a sprint, not a marathon.”
For Pitso Mosimane, the road back to the AFCON finals has already been mapped out. Now the work begins.
