Bafana Bafana aim to extend perfect East Africa record in must-win Kenya qualifier

Bafana Bafana will draw on an unbeaten historical record in East Africa when they face Kenya in a must-win AFCON qualifier on Tuesday.

South Africa have won all four of their previous Nations Cup qualifying matches in the region since being readmitted to international football. That record will provide encouragement as they attempt to strengthen their position in Group D.

Bafana Bafana played their first AFCON qualifier in August 1992, but it was not until 6 July 2003 that they travelled to East Africa for a qualifier. They defeated Burundi 2-0 in Bujumbura, with Teboho Mokoena and Stanton Fredericks scoring the goals.

The result secured top spot in Group K in qualifying for the 2004 Nations Cup finals, with Shakes Mashaba in charge of the national team.

South Africa returned to East Africa on 10 October 2004 to meet Uganda in Kampala. The match served as both a 2006 World Cup and AFCON qualifier, with the team finishing top earning a World Cup place and the top three qualifying for the Nations Cup.

Benni McCarthy scored the only goal as Bafana Bafana beat the Cranes. Although South Africa did not qualify for the World Cup, they reached the 2006 AFCON finals, a campaign that ended in disappointment.

It took another 20 years for Bafana Bafana to return to East Africa for an AFCON qualifier. On 10 September 2024, they travelled to Juba to face South Sudan and secured a 3-2 victory.

Oswin Appollis scored twice before Thalente Mbatha completed the comeback with a late winning goal. South Africa then faced Uganda again in Kampala in the same qualifying campaign, where goals from Thapelo Morena and Patrick Maswanganyi delivered a 2-0 victory.

With the squad now in Nairobi, those four victories offer a source of confidence before the meeting with Kenya.

Bafana Bafana need three wins to avoid the complications of having to monitor the teams around them as they pursue qualification from Group D. Kenya have already secured their place in the 2027 PAMOJA AFCON finals as one of the three host countries, leaving South Africa to focus on securing their own route to the tournament.

Their previous successes in Burundi, Uganda and South Sudan mean they have never lost an AFCON qualifier in East Africa since returning to international football. That sequence will be tested again in Nairobi on Tuesday.