Bafana Bafana vs Kenya: AFCON 2027 Qualifier Preview & Kick-Off Time

🌍 AFCON 2027 Qualifier Preview

Bafana Bafana vs Kenya opens a back-to-back 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double-header on Friday 13 November, with kick-off at 18:00 SAST at Orlando Amstel Arena in Johannesburg and the return leg in Nairobi on Tuesday 17 November. Bafana lead Group D on six points from two games under Pitso Mosimane, while Kenya are third on one point and winless in their last three matches. Here’s the Group D picture, the squad news and where to watch.

Bafana Bafana vs Kenya: Kick-Off Time, Venue & Match Details

The Nairobi kick-off had not been confirmed on SAFA’s fixtures list when we checked, so look for the official time before you plan your evening. Kenya’s local time is an hour ahead of SAST, so a listing in Kenyan time will need converting.

Group D Standings Before the Double-Header

Kenya sit third ahead of Eritrea on goal difference. Because Kenya qualify automatically as co-hosts of the 2027 tournament, along with Tanzania and Uganda, only one more team can reach the finals from Group D. That puts the pressure on South Africa, Guinea and Eritrea, while Kenya are using the qualifiers as preparation. The finals run from 19 June to 17 July 2027.

How Bafana Bafana Got Here

Mosimane’s return to the Bafana job has started with two wins in the group. South Africa beat Guinea 2-1 at Orlando Stadium on 26 September, then won 5-0 against Eritrea at Al-Salam Stadium in Cairo, a neutral venue, on 30 September. They stayed in Egypt and beat the Pharaohs 1-0 in a friendly on 4 October. The wins moved Bafana up to 48th in the FIFA rankings, a position they last held in 2011, according to TimesLIVE. They are chasing a third successive AFCON appearance after a bronze medal in Ivory Coast and a last-16 exit in Morocco in January.

Getting to Know Kenya

Kenya arrive without a win in three matches. They drew 1-1 with Eritrea at the Nyayo National Stadium on 26 September, lost 1-0 away to Guinea in Conakry on 1 October and drew 0-0 with Rwanda in a friendly on 5 October. Benni McCarthy, who is still Bafana’s all-time top scorer with 32 goals in 80 caps, has named a 24-man squad that includes seven players who missed the Guinea and Eritrea games: defenders Sylvester Owino and Eric Marcelo Ouma, midfielders Zak Vyner, Alwyn Tera and Henry Ochieng, and forwards Adam Wilson and William Lenkupae. Michael Olunga is among the forwards in the squad.

McCarthy has said he does not see the trip as a formality: “We respect South Africa, but our responsibility is to Kenya.” Mosimane has called them an emotional team with nothing to lose, and said Bafana must tread carefully.

Bafana Squad and Fitness News

• Squad: Mosimane named 27 players on 5 November. Chicago Fire defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi returns from injury and Lyle Foster is also back
• Debut hopeful: Mamelodi Sundowns winger Siyanda Ndlovu earned a first call-up after three goals and three assists in 16 appearances this season. Mosimane sees him as a game-breaker if Kenya sit deep, according to SuperSport
• Left out: Sundowns midfielder Themba Zwane was not included
• Williams and Mokoena: captain and goalkeeper Ronwen Williams and midfielder Teboho Mokoena were named despite recent injuries. Both returned to the Sundowns starting line-up in the 3-1 CAF Super Cup final defeat to USM Alger on Sunday 8 November. Mosimane has said he would wait until the last moment before deciding on replacements if doctors ruled them out
• Arrivals: the US-based and European-based players were still travelling into camp on Monday and Tuesday, and defender Kabini was due on Tuesday, so check for late updates before kick-off

Our Call: Bafana Bafana to Win

We’re backing Bafana Bafana to win on Friday. They have won both of their Group D games so far, scoring seven goals and conceding one, and they beat Egypt 1-0 in Cairo in October. Kenya have scored one goal in their last three matches and have not won in that run. Home advantage at Orlando and a strong squad, with Williams and Mokoena back in action, add to the case.

The risks are real. Mosimane himself has warned about an emotional Kenya side with nothing to lose, and the fitness of Williams and Mokoena is worth watching until team news comes out. This is our opinion only and not betting advice, so please do your own research before you bet.

How to Watch and Get Tickets

SuperSport’s AFCON qualifier schedule lists South Africa vs Kenya on SuperSport Kickoff SA, PSL, SuperSport Kickoff Africa, GOtv Kickoff, Max1 and Max3. Its table shows a 17:50 start, which looks like the broadcast start ahead of the 18:00 kick-off announced by SAFA. We did not find an SABC listing for the match, so check your channel guide on the day. At the ground, SAFA says tickets are R100 for adults and R40 for children aged 5 to 12, and a child ticket can only be bought together with at least one adult ticket. Gates open at 15:00.

The Return Leg in Nairobi

The second match is on Tuesday 17 November at Nyayo National Stadium, where Kenya drew with Eritrea in September. The kick-off time was still to be confirmed at the time of writing. We’ll cover it once Friday’s result is in. In the meantime you can read our Bafana Bafana vs Eritrea preview for how the group began.

Where to Bet on AFCON Qualifiers in South Africa

Which markets are offered for each match depends on the operator. See our South African sportsbook comparison to find an operator that suits you, or check individual operator reviews for licensing, bonus and payment details before you sign up.