Pitso Mosimane dismisses Benni McCarthy’s knowledge ahead of Bafana Bafana qualifier

Pitso Mosimane says Benni McCarthy’s familiarity with Bafana Bafana’s players and playing style will not give Kenya a decisive advantage when the sides meet in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier this month.

South Africa, who lead Qualifying Group D, will host Harambee Stars at Orlando Stadium next week before travelling to Kenya for the return fixture on 17 November.

McCarthy, Kenya’s coach, has previously worked with several of the South African players and also knows Mosimane’s approach from his time in the game. Mosimane, however, believes that detailed knowledge of an opponent only provides an indication of what might happen rather than a winning edge.

Speaking after naming the squad for the match against Kenya on Thursday, Mosimane compared the situation with the way leading European clubs are analysed by their opponents.

“I guess everybody knows how Barcelona plays right,” said Mosimane.

“Everybody knows how Arsenal is playing, right? Everybody sees Bayern Munich. Everyone has got analysts four analysts, people have got that, so they don’t know how they play? Everybody knows how you play.”

Mosimane has previously coached Bafana Bafana’s all-time top goal scorer during his first spell in charge of the national team. Despite that experience, he said understanding how a coach or team usually operates could not account for changes made before or during a match.

“Doesn’t mean when I know how Benni plays, it means now I have an advantage. No, it just gives me a little bit of data and understanding of seeing patterns, what is most likely to come,” he said.

“And what if they have changed the plan, right? Everybody knows how [Orlando] Pirates plays until you get to Orlando Stadium, right? So, it’s the way it is in football.”

Kenya have already qualified for the PAMOJA tournament because they are one of the co-hosts. South Africa, meanwhile, are pursuing a third successive appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations after reaching the 2023 and 2025 editions.

The two matches against Harambee Stars will therefore form an important part of South Africa’s effort to secure another place at the continental tournament, with the first meeting taking place on home soil next week before the teams reconvene in Kenya on 17 November.