Kenya coach Benni McCarthy to face South Africa in AFCON 2027 qualifying showdown

Kenya coach Benni McCarthy will come up against South Africa in a headline reunion after the draw for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers was concluded in Cairo on Tuesday, setting up one of the standout storylines of the campaign.

The former Bafana Bafana striker, now in charge of Kenya, will lead his side into Group D where emotional and competitive narratives are already building.

The 48 participating teams were divided into 12 groups, with the top two in each pool expected to advance to the finals.

However, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania have already secured automatic places as co-hosts, meaning only one additional team will progress from their respective groups.

Kenya’s Group D adds further intrigue as McCarthy prepares to face South Africa, Guinea and Eritrea in a pool where only one additional qualification slot is available due to Kenya’s automatic place at the finals.

The fixture against Bafana Bafana carries added emotional weight, with McCarthy still South Africa’s all-time leading scorer with 31 international goals. His tactical knowledge of the national side, combined with familiarity on both sides, is expected to intensify the contest when the teams meet.

Elsewhere, holders Morocco headline Group A alongside Gabon, Niger and Lesotho, while Egypt face Angola, Malawi and South Sudan in Group B, including demanding trips to Southern Africa.

Group C brings a West African contest featuring Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, The Gambia and Somalia, promising a tightly balanced pool.

DR Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe form Group E, while Group F looks highly competitive with Burkina Faso, Benin, Mauritania and the Central African Republic.

Cameroon have been drawn in Group G with Comoros, Namibia and Congo, as they seek to recover from recent setbacks. Group H features Tunisia, Uganda, Libya and Botswana, while Group I includes Algeria, Zambia, Togo and Burundi.

Senegal share Group J with Mozambique, Sudan and Ethiopia, while Mali, Cape Verde, Rwanda and Liberia make up Group K. Nigeria complete the line-up in Group L with Madagascar, Tanzania and Guinea-Bissau.

The qualifiers will be staged across three international windows, beginning with Matchdays 1 and 2 from 21 September to 6 October, followed by Matchdays 3 and 4 between 9 and 17 November.

The campaign will conclude with Matchdays 5 and 6 scheduled for 22 to 30 March 2027, ensuring a tightly packed schedule leading into the tournament finals.

The expanded format and limited qualification slots across several groups are expected to heighten competition intensity throughout the campaign.