AFCON 2027 qualifiers: South Africa face Guinea in crucial Group D opener

South Africa will begin their AFCON 2027 qualifying campaign when they host Guinea at the Orlando Amstel Arena on Saturday, September 26.

Kick-off is scheduled for 4:00 PM GMT, with both sides looking to make a positive start to their Group D campaign.

The fixture will mark the beginning of a new era for Bafana Bafana under returning head coach Pitso Mosimane. He has named a 30-man squad for the qualifiers, with five players receiving their maiden senior call-ups.

Guinea, coached by Paulo Duarte, will arrive with Borussia Dortmund striker Serhou Guirassy among their attacking options. Ilaix Moriba, Madiou Keïta and Saïdou Sow are also back in the squad, while Aboubacar Keïta has received his first senior call-up.

The head-to-head record makes for an intriguing contest. The two nations have met six times, with South Africa recording one win, Guinea two wins and three matches ending in draws. Their most recent meeting saw South Africa claim a 2-1 victory in the 2025 CHAN.

Group D has added significance because co-hosts Kenya have already qualified automatically, meaning only the highest-placed team outside Kenya will join them at the 2027 finals.