Bafana Bafana have made a strong start to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, earning six points from two matches. Their latest win was a dominant 5-0 victory over Eritrea at the Al Salam Stadium in Cairo. Relebohile Mofokeng scored a brace, while Oswin Appollis, Iqraam Rayners, and Luther Singh also found the back of the net. This win has significantly boosted their goal difference in Group D, putting them at the top of the log.
Coach Pitso Mosimane's team made two forced changes due to injuries, with Samukele Kabini and Bathusi Aubaas replacing Aubrey Modiba and Teboho Mokoena. Eritrea created early chances but failed to capitalize, while Bafana's goalkeeper Ronwen Williams made crucial saves to keep his team in the lead. Mofokeng opened the scoring after 19 minutes, receiving the ball from Appollis in midfield and beating Eritrea goalkeeper Yonathan Sultan.
Mofokeng doubled Bafana's lead just before halftime, controlling the ball in the box and beating two Eritrean defenders before scoring. The third goal came after 52 minutes when Sphephelo Sithole scored after a defensive error by Eritrea. Appollis dribbled past Henos Asmelash and unleashed a shot that Sultan could only parry into the path of Sithole, who easily found the back of the net.
The floodgates opened as Rayners scored the fourth goal after being released by Appollis, taking advantage of a sloppy mistake from Sultan. With the match all but won, Mosimane introduced several substitutes, including Singh, who completed the rout in stoppage time. This emphatic win will boost Bafana's confidence ahead of their upcoming meetings with Kenya in November.
Bafana will stay in North Africa for a few more days, playing an international friendly against Egypt at the Cairo International Stadium on Sunday evening. Mosimane is expected to give opportunities to players who did not feature against Guinea and Eritrea. The team's clean sheet is also a positive takeaway, as they had only managed one in their previous five outings.
The win over Eritrea has put Bafana in a strong position in Group D, but they still have a long way to go in the qualifiers. Guinea and Kenya will face each other in Conakry on Thursday, and a win for either team could close the gap at the top of the group. Mosimane will be pleased with his team's performance, but he will also be monitoring the injury status of Modiba, Mokoena, and Aubaas ahead of the MTN8 final next weekend.
The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers will continue in the coming months, with Bafana looking to secure a spot in the tournament. Their next matches against Kenya will be crucial in determining their chances of qualification. With a strong squad and a good start to the qualifiers, Bafana will look to build on their momentum and achieve their goals.
Key points
- Bafana Bafana have earned six points from two matches in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
- Relebohile Mofokeng scored a brace in the 5-0 win over Eritrea.
- Bafana will play an international friendly against Egypt on Sunday evening in Cairo.
