Mosimane warns Bafana of Kenya threat ahead of AFCON qualifier

Bafana Bafana head coach Pitso Mosimane has cautioned that Kenya will be a difficult opponent in a crucial 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, according to iDiski Times. He says South Africa must find a way to win if they want to book their place at the tournament.

A Kenyan side with little to lose

Mosimane’s main concern is Kenya’s position in the qualifying campaign. He said the visitors have already qualified, which allows them to approach the match without the same pressure that weighs on Bafana.

“We’re playing a team who have nothing to lose,” Mosimane said. He believes Kenya could either attack South Africa openly or sit back and try to frustrate the hosts by denying them a goal. In his view, nobody can dictate which approach an opponent will take.

He added that a Kenyan side that defends deep would be showing resilience, while a team that goes toe-to-toe with Bafana would not be as concerned about the result. For South Africa, he stressed, it is a big match. “We have to have answers,” he said.

Olunga and the McCarthy factor

Mosimane singled out experienced striker Michael Olunga, who is expected to lead Kenya’s attack. He compared him to Guirassy, the striker South Africa dealt with last time, but said Olunga is faster. He described Olunga as the team’s captain and a legend, brought back for this game after missing one or two matches.

The Bafana coach also spoke warmly of Kenya’s head coach, Benni McCarthy, a former Bafana striker who has also coached Manchester United. Mosimane said McCarthy has done more than any other player from South Africa and deserves respect. He said Bafana must be properly prepared, because a McCarthy side will not be sloppy.

Call for full stadiums

Mosimane also asked supporters to back the team. He said the Amstel Arena, or any stadium Bafana play in, must be full, and that this cannot happen without the media’s help. “You are key,” he told journalists, adding that the media is very important and that the team respects that.

What this means for supporters

For fans, the message is straightforward: the coach says Bafana need a win to stay on course for the AFCON finals, and he wants a loud, full stadium behind them. The source did not give kick-off details, so supporters planning to attend should check official Bafana Bafana and SAFA channels for the match time and ticket information.

This story is based on reporting by iDiski Times.