South Africa’s 2027 AFCON Qualifying Campaign Gets Underway
South Africa has learned its opponents for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers following a draw in Cairo, Egypt, on Tuesday afternoon. Bafana Bafana, the South African national team, has been placed in Group D, where they will face Kenya, Guinea, and Eritrea.
In the latest FIFA rankings, Guinea is ranked 80th, Kenya 111th, and Eritrea 184th, while South Africa sits at 60th. The draw seems to offer a relatively straightforward qualifying campaign for South Africa.
A Reunion with Benni McCarthy
One of the most intriguing aspects of the draw is South Africa’s clash with Kenya, who are coached by former Bafana Bafana striker Benni McCarthy. McCarthy took charge of Harambee Stars earlier this year and will now face his home nation as Kenya looks to secure qualification for a tournament they will co-host.
The 2027 AFCON finals will be held across East Africa, with Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania serving as co-hosts. This will be a significant event for the region, and McCarthy’s Kenya will be eager to make an impact.
Advantage for Bafana
Led by coach Hugo Broos, South Africa entered the draw in Pot 1, alongside continental heavyweights like Morocco, Senegal, and Egypt. Being seeded ensured that Bafana avoided facing Africa’s top-ranked nations in the group stage qualifiers.
The draw featured 48 nations divided into 12 groups, with only 24 teams advancing to the tournament finals. South Africa will be looking to make a strong impression and bounce back from a disappointing Round of 16 exit at the 2025 tournament.
Bafana’s Road to the 2027 AFCON
The 1996 AFCON champions will be targeting not only qualification but a deep run at the finals when the tournament takes place between 19 June and 17 July 2027. With a relatively manageable group, South Africa will be confident of making a strong challenge.
Here is the full draw:
* Group A: Morocco, Gabon, Niger, Lesotho
* Group B: Egypt, Angola, Malawi, South Sudan
* Group C: Ivory Coast, Ghana, Gambia, Somalia
* Group D: South Africa, Guinea, Kenya (co-host), Eritrea
* Group E: Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe
* Group F: Burkina Faso, Benin, Mauritania, Central African Republic
* Group G: Cameroon, Comoros, Namibia, Congo Brazzaville
* Group H: Tunisia, Uganda (co-host), Libya, Botswana
* Group I: Algeria, Zambia, Togo, Burundi
* Group J: Senegal, Mozambique, Sudan, Ethiopia
* Group K: Mali, Cape Verde, Rwanda, Liberia
* Group L: Nigeria, Madagascar, Tanzania (co-host), Guinea-Bissau
Note: Winners and runners-up qualify from nine groups not including a co-host. In three groups including a co-host, only one other team qualifies.
