Mosimane Names His First Preliminary AFCON 2027 Qualifiers Squad
Newly appointed Bafana Bafana head coach Pitso Mosimane has followed the precedent set by his predecessor, Hugo Broos, by releasing an initial preliminary squad on Friday.
Broos, who stepped down after a successful five-year tenure, consistently named larger preliminary groups before trimming them to a final 26-man roster to safeguard against potential player injuries. Mosimane, who signed a four-year deal with the South African Football Association (SAFA), will trim his squad to a manageable 26 players in the coming days.
The former Mamelodi Sundowns and Al Ahly tactician will begin his tenure with the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers, starting when Bafana Bafana host Guinea on 26 September at a venue to be confirmed.
Sportswire understands that SAFA will announce the match venue ahead of the weekend.
Bafana Bafana will then travel to Egypt—a neutral venue—to face Eritrea three days later. Mosimane will target a maximum six points from these opening fixtures to secure an early advantage in a competitive group.
With group rivals Kenya automatically qualified as co-hosts for AFCON 2027, finishing atop the standings is paramount. Alternatively, Bafana Bafana could qualify by finishing second, provided Kenya finishes at the top of the group.
Following the two qualifiers, Mosimane’s squad will remain in North Africa to face host nation Egypt in a high-profile friendly on October 4.
The trip to Egypt marks a significant homecoming for Mosimane. He remains a revered figure in Cairo, having guided giants Al Ahly SC to back-to-back CAF Champions League titles in 2020 and 2021 before finishing as runner-up the following season. During his illustrious stint in Egypt, he also clinched two CAF Super Cups, an Egyptian Premier League title, and the Egyptian Cup.
“The match between Bafana Bafana and Egypt will be one of brotherhood,” Mosimane expressed. “We look forward to reuniting with our brothers and sisters, and we cannot wait for this encounter.”
Playing at Cairo International Stadium brings back fond memories for South Africa. Bafana Bafana famously knocked hosts Egypt out in the Round of 16 at AFCON 2019 at the venue, thanks to a late winner from Thembinkosi Lorch.
The last meeting between the two nations occurred at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, where Egypt claimed a 1–0 victory via a Mohamed Salah penalty following a foul by Khuliso Mudau.
The Pharaohs held on for the win despite playing with ten men after Mohamed Hany—a familiar face to Mosimane from his Al Ahly days—was sent off for a second yellow card shortly before halftime.
