Overview
- Bafana opened their 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign with a 2-1 home win over Guinea on Saturday, with Ime Okon and Samukele Kabini scoring their first international goals and Seydouba Cisse replying for Guinea.
- Mosimane’s squad was reshuffled by injuries before the game, with Nkosinathi Sibisi ruled out and Lebohang Maboe withdrawn, prompting late call‑ups such as Tshepang Moremi.
- The win eases immediate pressure but does not remove it because Kenya are an automatic host in Group D, leaving South Africa, Guinea and Eritrea to fight for a single remaining spot.
- Mosimane signalled a longer plan to build depth across the squad, naming several uncapped players as options and praising the Springboks’ model of quality beyond the starting XI.
- Bafana face a quick run of games next, travelling to face Eritrea and then playing a friendly in Cairo, which will limit Mosimane’s time to assess new players and manage injuries.