Pitso Mosimane demands focus as Bafana Bafana aim to maintain pole position in Group D.
ORLANDO Amstel Arena in Soweto will be buzzing tonight as Bafana Bafana host Kenya in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier (kick-off at 6pm), in a match that pits two of South Africa's greats against each other – Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane and his opposite number, Benni McCarthy.
On one side is arguably South Africa's most successful footballer, McCarthy, while Mosimane is widely regarded as the country's most successful coach.
Mosimane has won the CAF Champions League three times, lifting the trophy with Mamelodi Sundowns in 2016 before guiding Egyptian giants Al Ahly to back-to-back triumphs in 2020 and 2021.
He has also collected multiple PSL titles and established himself as one of the continent's most decorated coaches.
McCarthy scored a record 31 goals for Bafana Bafana and enjoyed an illustrious playing career that took him to Ajax, Celta Vigo, FC Porto, Blackburn Rovers, West Ham United and Orlando Pirates. His crowning moment came in 2004 when he became the first, and so far the only, South African to win the Champions League with FC Porto under José Mourinho.
As the two teams prepare to meet today, Mosimane is determined to keep his side in pole position until the very end.
South Africa lead Group D after securing back-to-back victories over Guinea and Eritrea in their opening two matches.
Four crucial fixtures remain: consecutive clashes against Kenya, followed by an away trip to Guinea and a home encounter with Eritrea in March.
With Kenya co-hosting the finals alongside Uganda and Tanzania in the Pamoja region, the qualification dynamics carry unique stakes: only one non-host nation from the group can book a place in the tournament.
That team must either win the group outright or finish as runners-up behind the Harambee Stars.
Sitting at the top of the table and three points clear of Guinea, Mosimane acknowledges that Bafana are the team everyone wants to knock off their perch – and warns against complacency.
“The most important thing is that after matchday six, we must still be where we are right now. The other things don't matter,” Mosimane said.
“We are there now, so it's in our hands to stay there. But it's still a long road to matchday six. We have to face Guinea away, plus the back-to-back games against Kenya.”
Mosimane rates the Harambee Stars highly, praising the work done by his compatriot McCarthy.
While the East Africans head into Orlando Amstel Arena as underdogs, Mosimane highlighted why underestimating them would be a mistake.
“We've got to be very careful. Kenya only lost 1-0 away to Guinea,” Mosimane warned.
“You give me the stats and facts, but you haven't mentioned the other stat – that they lost by just a single goal away to a full-strength Guinea side. So, we have to be careful.”