Mosimane makes AFCON qualification the clear priority on Bafana Bafana return

Pit­so Mosimane has made qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations the overriding objective after returning for a second spell as Bafana Bafana head coach.

The 62-year-old has come back to the national team in a calmer frame of mind than during his first tenure, which began after the 2010 World Cup and lasted two years. Having since won continental honours with Mamelodi Sundowns and Al Ahly, Mosimane says he has a clearer understanding of the demands of the job.

“The key focus is on the qualifiers,” he said after naming his final squad for three matches during the forthcoming FIFA dates.

Bafana Bafana will begin their Group D campaign at home against Guinea on September 26 before facing Eritrea in Cairo, Egypt, on September 30. Their schedule will then conclude with a friendly against Egypt, also in Cairo, on October 4.

South Africa are ranked 54th in the FIFA rankings, ahead of their opening opponents Guinea in 81st and Eritrea in 184th. Egypt, who will provide the opposition in the final match of the international period, are ranked 24th.

Kenya are the other team in Group D but have already qualified for next year’s tournament because they are one of the three hosts, alongside Uganda and Tanzania.

Mosimane, who previously guided Mamelodi Sundowns and Al Ahly to success on the continent, was emphatic that qualification must come before any other consideration during his return to international management.

He said winning home matches would be central to achieving that target and insisted that any ambitions beyond qualification should be regarded as secondary.

“I don’t think there is any other thing more important than qualifying for the AFCON and making sure that you win your home games,” Mosimane said.

“There are two things qualify, and how you qualify is to win. Nothing else matters… it is secondary. Priority is qualifying. So, we need to have players who will help us qualify,” he concluded.

Mosimane’s immediate task is therefore to guide Bafana Bafana through the opening two qualifiers before they face Egypt in the friendly in Cairo. The three fixtures represent the first matches of his second period in charge of the national side.