Bafana face Eritrea with AFCON qualification in sight

Bafana Bafana will attempt to strengthen their position at the top of their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying group when they face Eritrea in Cairo on Wednesday.

South Africa moved into first place in Group D after beating Guinea on Saturday, while Eritrea drew 1-1 with Kenya.

Samukele Kabini scored the late winner against Guinea after Seydouba Cisse had cancelled out Ime Okon’s opening goal, Samukele Kabini reports for ESPN.

The result gave South Africa a two-point advantage at the top of the group. Only one qualification place remains available to South Africa, Guinea and Eritrea because Kenya is guaranteed one of the two qualifying places from the group as one of the tournament’s hosts.

The 2027 tournament will be staged in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. The match against Eritrea will be played in Cairo because Eritrea does not currently have a venue that meets CAF requirements.

It will also be the first away qualifier of Pitso Mosimane’s second spell in charge of Bafana. South Africa will remain in Cairo after Wednesday’s match to face Egypt in a friendly on 4 October.

Kick-off is scheduled for 7pm in Cairo, or 6pm South African time, at Al Stadium. SABC and SuperSport are scheduled to broadcast the match. Bafana will be without centre-back Mbekezeli Mbokazi, right-back Khuliso Mudau and midfielder Lebo Maboe because of injuries.

Mosimane is still working on his preferred combination and has been looking for greater cohesion in the side. He has also asked Oswin Appollis to move inside when left-back Aubrey Modiba advances.

Samukele Kabini’s impact from the substitutes’ bench could also influence the starting line-up, with competition for places still open as Mosimane continues to shape the team.