South Africa hosts Guinea in 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier

South Africa will face Guinea on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg at 20:00 WIB in a Group D qualifier for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. The match marks the return of legendary coach Pitso Mosimane to lead Bafana Bafana, replacing Hugo Broos following the 2026 FIFA World Cup. South Africa enters the fixture with recent confidence after competing in the World Cup, where they drew 1-1 with Czechia, defeated South Korea 1-0, and lost 0-2 to Mexico.

Guinea arrives with significant challenges, facing travel documentation obstacles and absences of key players including potential squad members from European clubs. The West African side has struggled in recent form, recording no wins in their last four matches and conceding in five consecutive games. Additionally, reports suggest uncertainty around the fitness of Borussia Dortmund's Serhou Guirassy, while established players like Naby Keita, Mady Camara, and others are unavailable.

The head-to-head record shows a competitive history: Guinea holds two wins and two draws against one South African victory in their last five meetings. However, in their most recent encounter on August 11, 2025, at the African Nations Championship, South Africa secured a 2-1 victory. Guinea previously defeated South Africa 2-0 at the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations, while the teams drew 0-0 in a friendly on March 25, 2022. Only one qualification spot is available from Group D, as Kenya has already qualified as one of the 2027 tournament hosts alongside Uganda and Tanzania.

Ticket demand has been high, with reports indicating 37,000 of Orlando Stadium's available tickets were sold out. South Africa is expected to deploy a 4-2-3-1 formation, while Guinea is predicted to use a 4-3-3 setup. The match concludes Matchday 1 of the qualification round, following Mali's 3-1 victory over Cape Verde earlier on Saturday. Broadcasters across multiple regions will carry the match, including beIN SPORTS MAX in Indonesia, SABC channels in South Africa, RTG in Guinea, and beIN SPORTS in the United States.