Pitso Mosimane admits South Africa face difficult AFCON qualification path

South Africa head coach Pitso Mosimane has admitted that Bafana Bafana could be heading towards a difficult route to qualification for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations following their disappointing 2-2 draw against Kenya.

The Bafana Bafana side missed the opportunity to strengthen their position at the top of Group D after surrendering their advantage and settling for a point despite enjoying periods of dominance.

Mosimane was particularly frustrated with his players’ inability to convert their scoring opportunities, insisting that possession and attractive football would count for little without clinical finishing.

“That’s football for you; two goals were not enough. Playing good football is not enough; pretty football is not all about that. You need to take the chances, and ball possession doesn’t win games,” Mosimane said after the match.

The former Mamelodi Sundowns and Al Ahly coach acknowledged that his team had made their qualification campaign more complicated by failing to secure all three points at home.

He suggested that South Africa could be forced to work harder than expected to secure their place at the continental showpiece, while urging his players to take valuable lessons from the setback.

“That’s the reality, that’s what you see, that’s the lessons we get from here. I think we want to qualify the hard way. I think we want it the hard way,” he added.

Despite his disappointment, Mosimane remains confident that Bafana Bafana can finish the campaign strongly, stressing that their immediate priority is to maintain their position at the summit of Group D.

“For me, it’s to stay where we are on the log and finish where we are on the log. So, it’s still in our hands, but it’s sad. It’s bitter, but it’s part of the game. Now we can see the character we have in the team,” he stated.

South Africa remain top of Group D following the draw, but their lead over second-placed Guinea has been reduced to just one point, leaving little room for further slip-ups.

Mosimane’s men will now turn their attention to Tuesday’s return fixture against Kenya in Nairobi, where they will be seeking a positive result to consolidate their position and keep their qualification ambitions firmly on track.

With their fate still in their own hands, Bafana Bafana will need to improve their finishing and show greater composure in front of goal if they are to avoid making their journey to the 2027 AFCON more difficult than necessary.