Overview
- The two fixtures are scheduled for Friday, 13 November at Orlando Stadium in Soweto and Tuesday, 17 November at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi.
- South Africa lead Group D on six points after wins over Guinea and Eritrea and coach Pitso Mosimane, who is 100% since his return, wants both victories to move Bafana to nine points.
- Kenya are already guaranteed a place as one of the tournament co-hosts so only the group winner apart from the hosts will earn the remaining qualifying spot.
- Kenya coach Benni McCarthy has reported player strikes over unpaid allowances and said some payments were later made while technical staff remain unpaid, a situation that complicates the team’s preparations and morale.
- Bafana must manage selection and discipline with key players back from injury and central defenders Olwethu Makhanya and Ime Okon one booking away from missing the Nairobi return leg, and a full sweep would give South Africa a commanding path to qualification and reduce reliance on tie‑breaker permutations.