21 Games Unbeaten: Bafana Put Formidable Home AFCON Record On The Line Against Guinea
Bafana Bafana’s nearly two-decade unbeaten home run in Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers faces a stern test when they host Guinea at the Orlando Amstel Arena on Saturday afternoon.
The match marks the beginning of a new era under Pitso Mosimane, South Africa’s most successful coach, who has taken over from Hugo Broos for the 2027 AFCON qualification campaign.
Bafana Bafana are aiming to extend an impressive 21-match unbeaten streak in home AFCON qualifiers. They have not lost a qualifying fixture on home soil since September 2007, when Zambia stunned them 3–1 at Cape Town’s former Newlands Stadium.
In that match, former Jomo Cosmos and Bidvest Wits striker Christopher Katongo scored a 20-minute hat-trick past Rowen Fernandez. Benni McCarthy’s header served as the sole consolation for a star-studded South African lineup featuring Steven Pienaar, Aaron Mokoena, Delron Buckley, Nasief Morris, Bradley Carnell, and Macbeth Sibaya.
Bafana’s most recent AFCON qualifier on home soil was also in Cape Town, where they defeated South Sudan 3–0 at DHL Stadium in November 2024, thanks to goals from Iqraam Rayners, Patrick Maswanganyi, and a Teboho Mokoena penalty.
That convincing win sealed their qualification for the 2025 AFCON finals in Morocco.
This time, South Africa face a Guinea side ranked 84th in the world but spearheaded by Borussia Dortmund striker Serhou Guirassy. The 30-year-old forward previously scored against Bafana captain Ronwen Williams during a thrilling 4–3 FIFA Club World Cup clash in the United States against Mamelodi Sundowns, where Dortmund edged out the South African powerhouse.
However, while Guirassy enjoys world-class service at Dortmund, he lacks the same surrounding star power with the Syli National. Guinea failed to qualify for both the 2025 AFCON and the FIFA World Cup—two tournaments Bafana Bafana reached in fine style.
Guinea coach Paulo Duarte, a Portuguese native with vast experience in African football, previously crossed paths with Mosimane in 2011 while managing Burkina Faso. Mosimane’s Bafana emerged 3–0 victors at Ellis Park that day, courtesy of a Katlego Mphela brace and a strike from Siphiwe Tshabalala.
Following that 2011 defeat, an incensed Duarte famously criticized the officiating standards on SABC Sport and declined to face the media on Friday. Much like his fellow Portuguese and Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso, Duarte is a manager who wears his heart on his sleeve.
Head-to-Head History: Bafana Bafana and Guinea have met six times historically across all competitions, with South Africa winning two, Guinea winning one, and three matches ending in draws.
