Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane has announced his final 30-man squad for the 2027 CAF Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Guinea and Eritrea this month.
The South African senior men's national team trimmed a preliminary 35-member squad to 30 players for three international matches in the coming weeks.
Mosimane's outfit will open their AFCON qualifying campaign when they host the Guineans at Johannesburg's Orlando Stadium.
Following that opening AFCON assignment against Guinea, the South Africans will face Eritrea at the Al-Salam Stadium in Cairo, Egypt, in the second group match on Wednesday, 30 September 2026.
The South Africans will wrap up their assignments on the road with an international friendly against Egypt at Cairo International Stadium on 4 October 2026.
The next AFCON tournament (Pamoja 2027) takes place from 19 June to 17 July 2027 and will be held in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
"We were all looking forward to our first team to be announced (by Coach Mosimane)," a source close to the squad said.
It will be the first time that three countries will co-host AFCON, and also the first time that the continental tournament will be held in East Africa since Ethiopia hosted the event in 1976.
The argument doing the rounds in Kampala is whether the co-host slot Uganda gets at AFCON 2027 will affect the Cranes' qualification campaign, with many faithful split on whether the team should treat qualifiers as build-up or competitive business.
When do South Africa play Guinea and Eritrea in AFCON qualifiers?
South Africa open against Guinea at Orlando Stadium this month before facing Eritrea in Cairo on 30 September 2026.
When and where is AFCON 2027?
Pamoja 2027 runs from 19 June to 17 July 2027 in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
South Africa AFCON 2027 qualifier fixtures
- vs Guinea — Orlando Stadium, Johannesburg (this month)
- vs Eritrea — Al-Salam Stadium, Cairo (30 September 2026)
- vs Egypt (friendly) — Cairo International Stadium (4 October 2026)
Watch the Highlights
Source: Africa Top Sports
