Pitso Mosimane is set for a tactical showdown with fellow South African Benni McCarthy when Bafana Bafana face Kenya in the 2027 AFCON qualifiers.
The clash will come early in Mosimane’s second permanent stint as South Africa head coach. It follows after his official appointment by the South African Football Association (SAFA) as the successor to Hugo Broos.
His first competitive assignment comes against Guinea on 23 September, before an away clash against Eritrea four days later. But the November international window is where things get particularly interesting.
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South Africa will host Kenya on 11 November before travelling to face the Harambee Stars four days later. That means Mosimane will come up against McCarthy, another South African football icon, twice in the space of four days.
The two coaches have enjoyed vastly different journeys into international management. Mosimane is one of the most decorated coaches in African football, having won major honours with Mamelodi Sundowns and Al Ahly.
McCarthy, meanwhile, has also built an impressive coaching reputation and now finds himself leading Kenya on the international stage. Their meeting will add another fascinating chapter to their respective careers.
The qualification equation makes the double-header even more significant.
Kenya are co-hosts of the 2027 AFCON and therefore qualify automatically for the tournament. As a result, only one other team from the group will secure a place at the continental finals.
For Bafana Bafana, dropping points could therefore prove extremely costly. Mosimane will need to get his team firing immediately, with the opening four matches potentially shaping the entire qualification campaign.
The schedule is clear:
23 September 2026:
South Africa
vs Guinea – Home
27 September 2026:
Eritrea vs
South Africa
— neutral venue
11 November 2026:
South Africa
vs Kenya – Home
15 November 2026:
Kenya vs
South Africa
– Away
The November fixtures promise to be the headline act. Two South African coaching legends. Two national teams. Four days apart.
And with Bafana Bafana fighting for their place at the 2027 AFCON, there will be little room for sentiment when Mosimane and McCarthy finally go head-to-head.
