Bafana Bafana head coach Pitso Mosimane has identified Eritrea striker Ali Sulieman as one of the main threats South Africa must contain when the teams meet in a 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Wednesday, 30 September 2026.
South Africa face Eritrea at Al Salaam Stadium in Cairo in their second Group D match after opening their qualifying campaign with a 2 to 1 victory over Guinea in Gauteng. Eritrea started their campaign with a 1 to 1 draw against Kenya, with Sulieman providing the assist for their goal.
The match gives Bafana an opportunity to build on their winning start while Eritrea will be looking for their first victory of the group stage.
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Pitso Mosimane Warns Bafana About Ali Sulieman
Mosimane said Bafana cannot afford to underestimate Eritrea despite South Africa entering the fixture after victory over Guinea.
The Bafana coach highlighted 26 year old Sulieman, who plays his club football for Egyptian side Al Masry, as one of the players requiring particular attention.
Sulieman scored three goals against Eswatini over two legs to help Eritrea qualify for the group stage. He then provided the assist for Nahom Girmai to score in Eritrea’s 1 to 1 draw with Kenya in Nairobi on Saturday.
Mosimane said Sulieman’s pace and ability to shoot with either foot make him a significant attacking threat.
“They have a striker who scores all the time. He is fast and shoots from any angle with his left or right foot,” Mosimane said.
He also highlighted Sulieman’s ability from set pieces and penalties, saying he is one of the players Bafana will have to monitor closely.
Eritrea’s Draw Against Kenya Offers Bafana a Warning
Eritrea’s opening result against Kenya has given South Africa an indication of the challenge they could face in Cairo.
Girmai put Eritrea ahead before Kenya found a late equaliser to secure a 1 to 1 draw.
Mosimane said the result showed why South Africa must respect their opponents.
“They gave Kenya a scare also. Kenya had to equalise at the end in Kenya. It shows you that you have to respect them because Kenya are a good team,” Mosimane said.
The Bafana coach has called for the same level of commitment his players showed against Guinea.
Bafana Looking to Build on Guinea Victory
South Africa opened their Group D campaign with a 2 to 1 victory over Guinea.
Mosimane was pleased with the result and the attitude of his players but acknowledged that Bafana still have areas that need improvement.
South Africa created several opportunities against Guinea but failed to convert all of them.
Mosimane said the team must remain positive while showing Eritrea the same respect it gave Guinea.
“We missed a few chances and we also need a bit of improvement like any other team. But we must stay positive,” Mosimane said.
He added that his players need to continue working hard and representing South Africa with the same attitude they displayed in their opening qualifier.
Bafana Face Injury Changes Against Eritrea
South Africa will be without two Mamelodi Sundowns players for the Eritrea fixture.
Left back Aubrey Modiba and midfielder Teboho Mokoena picked up injuries during the victory over Guinea.
Their absence means Mosimane will need to make changes to the side for Wednesday’s match.
Samukele Kabini, who came off the bench to score the winner against Guinea, could be considered as an option following Modiba’s injury.
Bathusi Aubaas is another option available to Mosimane and could replace Mokoena in midfield.
The changes will test Bafana’s squad depth as the national team attempts to maintain its winning start to the qualifying campaign.
Why the Eritrea Match Matters for Bafana
South Africa and Eritrea are competing in Group D alongside Guinea and Kenya.
Bafana already have three points after beating Guinea, while Eritrea collected one point from their opening draw against Kenya.
Wednesday’s result will therefore influence the early Group D standings as the teams compete for qualification for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
Mosimane has made it clear that South Africa cannot base its approach on Eritrea’s reputation or ranking.
Instead, Bafana will need to focus on their own performance while limiting the opportunities available to players such as Sulieman.
The coach said the attitude displayed against Guinea will again be important.
“I am happy we got the result. The attitude was good so we need the same attitude against Eritrea,” Mosimane said.
What This Means for Gauteng Residents
For football supporters across Gauteng, the Eritrea match comes just days after Bafana opened their qualifying campaign with victory on home soil.
Several players in Mosimane’s squad are also familiar to Gauteng football supporters through their involvement with clubs based in the province.
The injuries to Mamelodi Sundowns players Modiba and Mokoena will be particularly notable, with both unavailable for the second qualifier.
A second successive victory would give Bafana another positive result in the early stages of the qualifying campaign.
However, Eritrea’s draw against Kenya and the recent form of Sulieman mean South Africa will need to manage the fixture carefully.
Bafana Bafana vs Eritrea Match Details
The key details for Wednesday’s qualifier are:
- Match: Eritrea vs South Africa
- Competition: 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers
- Group: Group D
- Date: Wednesday, 30 September 2026
- Venue: Al Salaam Stadium, Cairo, Egypt
South Africa head into the fixture with three points from their opening match, while Eritrea have one point.
The encounter will be Bafana’s second match of the Group D qualifying campaign.
Bafana Bafana vs Eritrea FAQs
When do Bafana Bafana play Eritrea?
Bafana Bafana face Eritrea on Wednesday, 30 September 2026 at Al Salaam Stadium in Cairo, Egypt.
Who is Ali Sulieman?
Ali Sulieman is a 26 year old Eritrean striker who plays for Al Masry in Egypt. He scored three goals against Eswatini over two legs and provided an assist against Kenya in Eritrea’s opening Group D qualifier.
Why has Pitso Mosimane warned Bafana about Sulieman?
Mosimane highlighted Sulieman’s pace, ability to shoot with either foot and threat from set pieces and penalties.
How did Bafana perform in their opening qualifier?
South Africa defeated Guinea 2 to 1 in their opening Group D match.
Which Bafana players are injured?
Aubrey Modiba and Teboho Mokoena picked up injuries against Guinea and will miss the Eritrea fixture.
Bafana Turn Attention to Eritrea
Bafana Bafana enter Wednesday’s match looking to build on their victory over Guinea and maintain their positive start to the 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign.
Eritrea’s draw against Kenya has given Mosimane’s side a clear warning that their opponents cannot be underestimated, while Sulieman’s recent performances have made him one of the players South Africa will need to watch closely.
With Modiba and Mokoena unavailable, Mosimane will also need to adjust his team as Bafana target another positive Group D result in Cairo.
