By Hlayisani Magoro.
Photo Credit: SAFA.
Bafana Bafana head coach Pitso Mosimane is wary of Kenya ahead of their clash in the 2027 Africa Cup Of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers at the Orlando Amstel Arena on Friday.
South Africa head into the match sitting at the summit of Group D and level on six points with second-placed Guinea, who played one game more after their 2-1 win over Eritrea on Thursday.
With Kenya having already secured their spot in the continental showpiece as cohosts alongside Uganda and Tanzania, there’s only one qualification slot in Group D.
Mosimane, as a result, is anticipating a tricky assignment against the Harambee Stars, noting that Benni McCarthy and his troops have nothing to lose, which somewhat makes them fearless.
“The Kenya game is a tricky one because you’re playing against a team that has nothing to lose, already qualified,” said the Bafana boss, whose immediate task is to qualify for the AFCON.
“And you know when you play against a team that has nothing to lose, it doesn’t matter what score or the results are, we’re already in the finals. So, that creates a little bit of lack of fear for them.”
The former Mamelodi Sundowns and Al Ahly mentor is well-aware that alreadyqualified Kenya can spring tactical surprises, and is braced for the East African nation to give them a run for their money.
“They can go full out play or frustrating us not to be able to get a goal, so you can’t tell how they must approach the match because what if they’re working on resilience and rainforce defence? They must do it with us,” Mosimane added.
“What if they want to take us toe-to-toe? So, this is where to do it because results don’t matter, so it’s going to be that kind of a game that matters to us more than them, tough game for us.”
“We have to do what we have to do, expect the same level of Guinea and we have to have answers for that. If we want to go to the finals of AFCON we have to do what we have to do, we have to win the match.”
Bafana will be looking to secure a favourable result in the first instalment of the double-header on home soil, before the second meeting at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi, Kenya on Tuesday, 17 November.