Bafana Bafana opened their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign with a 2 to 1 victory over Guinea at Orlando Stadium in Soweto on Saturday, 26 September 2026. Goals from Ime Okon and substitute Samukele Kabini secured three points in Pitso Mosimane’s first match since returning as national team coach. The result puts South Africa at the top of Group D ahead of their next qualifier against Eritrea in Cairo on Wednesday, 30 September.
The victory also gave Mosimane an opportunity to assess several younger players, including Olwethu Makhanya, Kamogelo Sebelebele and Relebohile Mofokeng.
While South Africa created several scoring opportunities against Guinea, Mosimane acknowledged that his side still needs to improve its finishing. The team will have another opportunity to address that problem when it faces Eritrea.
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How Bafana Bafana Secured Victory Against Guinea
Bafana Bafana had to recover from an early scare after Guinea winger Aliou Balde forced goalkeeper Ronwen Williams into a save during the opening stages.
South Africa responded by creating chances of their own. Mofokeng had an opportunity to open the scoring but failed to convert after Guinea lost possession in defence.
Okon eventually broke the deadlock in the 30th minute. The defender scored from close range after Guinea failed to clear a corner, giving Bafana a lead they maintained until halftime.
Guinea equalised in the 69th minute through Seydouba Cisse, who reacted to a loose ball after Serhou Guirassy’s free kick struck the South African defensive wall.
Eight minutes later, Kabini restored South Africa’s lead. The substitute received a pass from Yanela Mbuthuma before finishing past Guinea goalkeeper Soumaila Sylla to secure the victory.
Mosimane Identifies Finishing as an Area for Improvement
Despite the result, Mosimane said South Africa must make better use of the scoring opportunities it creates.
Speaking after the match, the Bafana coach acknowledged that his team had produced several chances but had not converted enough of them.
Mosimane also praised his players’ approach to the match, particularly their willingness to press Guinea and compete for possession.
According to Mosimane wants to build on winning start in next game against Eritrea, Mosimane has urged his players to remain grounded following their opening victory. The coach is now focused on building on that performance against Eritrea.
The Guinea match demonstrated why finishing remains an important issue for Bafana. South Africa created opportunities in the first half but entered the break with only a single goal.
The team also had to respond after conceding an equaliser. Kabini’s winning goal ultimately ensured that Bafana collected all three points.
Young Bafana Players Given Opportunities Under Mosimane
Several younger players featured prominently in Mosimane’s first competitive match since his return.
Defenders Okon and Makhanya started together in central defence, while Sebelebele occupied the right back position in the absence of the injured Khuliso Mudau.
Okon contributed at both ends of the pitch, scoring his first senior international goal and helping South Africa manage Guinea’s attacking threat.
Sebelebele initially struggled against Balde but improved as the match progressed. His performance earned him the Player of the Match award.
Mosimane praised the defender’s recovery and noted that his regular experience at right back for Orlando Pirates had helped him in the position.
Mofokeng, Thapelo Maseko and Oswin Appollis also featured in the starting lineup, giving Mosimane several attacking options.
The selection reflects a degree of continuity from Hugo Broos’s tenure. Mosimane retained much of the team that represented South Africa at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, making changes to accommodate injuries and his preferred starting lineup.
Kabini Makes an Impact From the Bench
Kabini was introduced during the second half after Aubrey Modiba experienced a physical problem.
The defender subsequently scored his first senior international goal, providing the decisive contribution in South Africa’s opening qualifier.
Mbuthuma also played an important role after entering the match in the 68th minute. The striker provided the pass that allowed Kabini to run behind Guinea’s defence and score.
Their combination illustrated the contribution Mosimane received from his substitutes during a match in which Guinea had threatened to secure a draw.
According to CAF, Kabini’s goal moved South Africa two points clear at the top of Group D after Eritrea and Kenya drew their opening fixture.
Bafana Bafana Face Eritrea in Their Next AFCON Qualifier
Bafana Bafana will face Eritrea at Al Salam Stadium in Cairo on Wednesday, 30 September.
The fixture will take place in Egypt because Eritrea does not currently have a stadium that meets Confederation of African Football requirements for hosting the match.
Eritrea began their qualifying campaign with a 1 to 1 draw against Kenya in Nairobi. Nahom Girmai Netabay scored for Eritrea before Ryan Ogam equalised for Kenya late in the match.
The result means Bafana cannot assess their next opponents solely on their recent international record.
South Africa will also play an international friendly against Egypt at Cairo International Stadium on Sunday, 4 October, after completing their second Group D qualifier.
Group D Standings After the Opening Matches
| Position | Team | Played | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Africa | 1 | 3 |
| 2 | Kenya | 1 | 1 |
| 3 | Eritrea | 1 | 1 |
| 4 | Guinea | 1 | 0 |
Standings following the opening Group D fixtures on 26 September 2026, according to CAF.
Kenya has already qualified for the 2027 tournament as one of the three host nations, alongside Tanzania and Uganda. CAF says only the highest placed team among South Africa, Guinea and Eritrea will qualify from Group D.
That format makes the remaining fixtures particularly important for Bafana, who will need to maintain their position against their direct qualification rivals.
What This Means for Gauteng Residents
Bafana’s victory at Orlando Stadium brought the opening match of South Africa’s AFCON qualifying campaign to Soweto, giving Gauteng supporters an opportunity to watch Mosimane’s return to the national team.
The match also featured several players with links to Gauteng football, including Orlando Pirates players Sebelebele and Mofokeng.
For local supporters, the next opportunity to follow Bafana will come on Wednesday when the national team faces Eritrea in Cairo.
The result of that fixture will determine whether South Africa can extend its lead over its direct qualification rivals after the opening two rounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What was the Bafana Bafana vs Guinea result?
Bafana Bafana beat Guinea 2 to 1 at Orlando Stadium in Soweto on Saturday, 26 September 2026.
2. Who scored for Bafana Bafana against Guinea?
Ime Okon scored in the 30th minute, while Samukele Kabini scored the winning goal in the 77th minute.
3. Who was named Player of the Match?
Kamogelo Sebelebele received the award following his performance at right back.
4. When is Bafana Bafana’s next match?
South Africa will face Eritrea in a 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Wednesday, 30 September, at Al Salam Stadium in Cairo.
5. When will Bafana Bafana play Egypt?
Bafana are scheduled to face Egypt in an international friendly at Cairo International Stadium on Sunday, 4 October 2026.
Bafana Look to Build on Winning Start in Cairo
South Africa’s opening victory gives Mosimane three points to take into his next AFCON qualifier. It also provided opportunities for younger players to contribute, with Okon and Kabini scoring their first senior international goals and Sebelebele receiving individual recognition.
However, Mosimane has identified chance conversion as an issue that still requires attention. With Eritrea having already held Kenya to a draw, Wednesday’s match will provide another test of Bafana’s ability to turn scoring opportunities into results.
The immediate focus now shifts from the victory in Soweto to securing another qualifying result in Cairo.
