AFCON 2027 Qualifiers: Bafana Bafana’s wastefulness puts Pitso Mosimane under pressure after Kenya collapse

Pitso Mosimane’s Bafana Bafana side are facing uncomfortable questions after their inability to convert dominance into goals allowed Kenya to snatch a late 2-2 draw, exposing shortcomings that could complicate the coach’s early tenure.

Mosimane’s frustration was there for everyone to see when he kicked bottles in front of the technical area after Kenya grabbed their late equaliser. The reaction summed up a night when South Africa had control of the contest but repeatedly failed to do enough in the final third to secure victory.

Bafana were comfortably the better side for long spells, enjoying possession and creating opportunities against a Kenyan team that initially struggled to cope with their attacking movement.

An early own goal from Amos Wanjala appeared to put South Africa on course for all three points. Oswin Appollis, Relebohile Mofokeng and Tshepang Moremi also showed little hesitation in taking on their opponents, with Bafana moving the ball confidently and dictating the tempo.

However, their inability to turn promising attacking situations into clear goals gradually became a problem.

Byrne Odhiambo deserves credit for his goalkeeping display, but South Africa also failed to demonstrate the composure and precision required to put the game beyond Kenya.

Bafana’s missed chances allow Kenya back into the contest

The hosts grew into the game as South Africa struggled to make their possession count. Kenya became increasingly confident, finding opportunities to attack and putting the visitors under pressure.

Their persistence eventually paid off when a set-piece situation resulted in Thabang Matuludi handling the ball inside the penalty area late in the second half.

Michael Olunga made no mistake from the spot, sending Ronwen Williams the wrong way to restore parity and expose South Africa’s failure to manage their advantage.

Kenya returned from the interval with greater intensity and matched Bafana’s physical approach. More importantly, they demonstrated the composure to remain in the contest despite spending long periods without the ball.

South Africa, meanwhile, struggled to impose themselves when the game demanded greater control and authority.

The introduction of Lyle Foster and Puso Dithejane was intended to provide fresh attacking impetus, but Kenya’s defenders made life difficult for the substitutes.

Foster, in particular, was closely monitored by the Kenyan backline, which restricted his involvement and initially prevented him from influencing proceedings.

However, when the Houston Dynamo striker eventually found space, he made it count. His excellent control inside the penalty area was followed by an intelligent pass to Mofokeng, who finished clinically to restore Bafana’s lead.

It was a moment that highlighted the attacking quality available to Mosimane, but also reinforced the frustration surrounding his team’s inability to sustain that advantage.

Defensive errors compound Mosimane’s selection headache

South Africa’s problems were not restricted to their wastefulness in front of goal. Their defensive concentration also deteriorated at crucial moments, allowing Kenya to capitalise on individual mistakes.

Olwethu Makhanya’s failure to clear the ball quickly proved costly when Ryan Ogam dispossessed him and fired a powerful, low effort beyond Williams.

The defensive lapse raised further questions about Mosimane’s selection decisions, particularly his decision not to start Mbekezeli Mbokazi.

Mbokazi has established himself as a reliable option in defence, and his absence from the starting lineup became a talking point after Makhanya’s costly mistake.

Mosimane was visibly unhappy when questioned about the decision during his post-match press conference.

He explained that he wanted to maintain confidence in the centre-backs who had performed well during the previous international window rather than immediately introduce Mbokazi, who was returning to the squad after an extended absence.

The coach’s explanation offered insight into his selection thinking, but the result has inevitably intensified scrutiny of his defensive choices.

Nairobi return leg presents another major test

Mosimane will be particularly concerned by his team’s inability to manage the closing stages of a match they had controlled for long periods.

Although Bafana remain top of Group D, their lead has been reduced to just one point, leaving little room for further dropped points in the qualification race.

The return fixture in Nairobi on Tuesday now carries additional importance, with South Africa needing a more clinical performance to avoid another frustrating result.

Mosimane is still working to establish his preferred playing style and build cohesion within a relatively new squad. However, the draw against Kenya exposed areas that require urgent attention.

Bafana must become more decisive in the final third, improve their game management and eliminate the individual errors that continue to undermine their performances.

Failure to address those shortcomings could make the return encounter increasingly uncomfortable for the South African coach.

For Mosimane, the challenge is no longer simply about dominating matches. It is about turning that dominance into results before further dropped points put his position and Bafana’s qualification ambitions under greater scrutiny.