Bafana Bafana cannot afford to underestimate Kenya in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Orlando, Soweto, on Friday evening. Bafana, who are currently top of Group D, want to maintain their winning run and qualify for next year’s tournament as soon as possible.
Coach Pitso Mosimane says they have to go all out for a win against a side that has already qualified for next year’s tournament by virtue of being the co-hosts.
Bafana Bafana are top of Group D with two wins after two games. A win against Kenya on Friday evening will take Bafana to a full complement on nine points and a huge step towards securing qualification.
Mosimane has a 100% record since making his return to the Bafana Bafana fold. They started with a win against Guinea in their opening qualifying match at the Orlando Amstel Arena.
This was followed by a convincing 5-nil win against Eritrea in Cairo a few days later, and victory over Egypt in a friendly. But Mosimane realises that they cannot afford to underestimate a side coached by the legendary marksman, Benni McCarthy.
“Kenya game as Ronza said it’s a tricky one because we are playing against a team that has nothing to lose already qualified. You know when you are playing against a team that has nothing to lose it doesn’t matter what’s the score or the results are they know we are already in the finals. So, that creates a little bit of being fearless for them, full out play or frustrating us not to be able to get a goal or whichever way they approach you can’t tell how they must approach whatever.”
With 27 players at his disposal, Mosimane is spoilt for choice. He welcomes back players who were out injured for the previous camp. They are central defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi and midfielder Thalente Mbatha. Also back in the team is US based forward, Lyle Foster.
“The MLS players they travel for one and a half days to be here time differences. We don’t adjust our time to their time because we are a group and they gel in proper you know the MLS boys are focused, they show that they come from very good environment. All those guys and most of them who went to the World Cup, we brought them back, and very important for me to give them the respect to be part of the group without compromising what has been happening because that’s more important,” Mosimane adds.
The players including captain Ronwen Williams are determined to maintain their 100% winning record in the qualifiers. Williams says it’s important for them to capitalise on home ground advantage, before facing Kenya away.
“We know our group is a bit different to all other groups, we know we’ve got Kenya in our group, and we know what that means. It means that only one team qualifies and if you look at this moment it’s between us and Guinea. So, we’ve started well, we need to keep going now, make sure that we maintain our position because we don’t want to take our calculators out, come March cause it’s a very stressful moment.”
The two nations will clash again in the second leg encounter at the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi on Tuesday evening.