Bafana Bafana to host Benni McCarthy’s Kenya in Johannesburg AFCON qualifier

Orlando Amstel Arena in Johannesburg will host South Africa’s first of two back-to-back 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Kenya next month, the South African Football Association has confirmed.

Bafana Bafana will face Benni McCarthy’s Harambee Stars on Friday, 13 November 2026, with kick-off scheduled for 18h00. The return fixture will be played in Nairobi on Tuesday, 17 November 2026.

The meeting in Johannesburg will be the first time McCarthy faces his home country since becoming Kenya coach. It will also give him the chance to go up against South Africa manager Pitso Mosimane on home soil.

South Africa secured top spot in Group D after winning both of their AFCON qualifying matches in September 2026. They opened the campaign with a 2-1 victory over Guinea in Johannesburg before recording a 5-0 win against Eritrea in Egypt.

Bafana Bafana also defeated Egypt 1-0 in Cairo during the same FIFA international window.

Those results helped South Africa climb to 48th in the latest FIFA world rankings, while they are now listed 10th among the teams on the African continent.

The fixture at Orlando Amstel Arena will be South Africa’s second home match of the qualifying campaign. The venue hosted the victory over Guinea in the previous international break.

Mosimane is expected to announce his preliminary squad in the coming days.