AFCON 2027 Qualifiers: Pitso Mosimane’s Bafana Bafana Second Era Begins Today Against Guinea
by Devesh Jaganath | by Devesh Jaganath
'Jingles' Returns to the Helm at Bafana Bafana with a Clean Slate
A new chapter of expectation has arrived for South African football fans as the legendary Pitso Mosimane is set to make his return to the national team dugout at Orlando Stadium today, and you can find all the key match information in our AFCON predictions.
Following Hugo Broos’ departure after a historic World Cup cycle, “Jingles” returns to the helm for his second stint as head coach, inheriting a squad packed with immense potential but clouded by recent off-field distractions relating to player bonuses.
Mosimane’s first hurdle is settling a camp that was recently rocked by internal friction relating to delayed player remuneration from the previous international window. However, the 62-year-old has made clear that he is demanding absolute focus from his senior players, such as Ronwen Williams and Teboho Mokoena.
One of the most anticipated elements of Mosimane’s second era is his commitment to integrating South Africa’s explosive new wave of European talent!
Mosimane’s return has injected massive belief into local supporters, but the task ahead is immense. The new coach has wasted little time implementing a fresh approach, moving away from a rigid defensive structure toward a more fluid, high-pressing system designed to utilise his team’s pace in attack.
All eyes will be on Relebohile Mofokeng, who has been in stunning form in Belgium since his move from Orlando Pirates in the summer. Alongside him, Copenhagen’s Thapelo Maseko and Rangers’ centre-back Olwethu Makhanya give Bafana a distinctly modern, aggressive identity.
Mosimane’s Group D Conundrum: Why a Draw is Not Enough
Group D leaves little room for error, making today’s encounter particularly important for Mosimane and Bafana. Since AFCON co-hosts Kenya automatically qualify, South Africa, Guinea, and Eritrea are competing for just one remaining place at the 2027 finals.
Thus, with only one qualification place available, every point becomes significant. Guinea will see an away point as a valuable result ahead of the return legs, especially with Serhou Guirassy providing a major threat in attack. For Bafana Bafana, anything less than three points here will be a genuine setback.
South Africa vs Guinea: Match Details
- Date: Saturday, 26 September 2026
- Kick-Off Time: 15:00 SAST / 13:00 GMT
- Venue: Orlando Stadium, Soweto, Johannesburg
- Live Coverage: Broadcast live on SABC Sport, SuperSport, or via our South Africa vs Guinea livescore tool.
