The fixtures will carry plenty of intrigue, with McCarthy facing his home country for the first time since taking charge of Kenya. The former Bafana Bafana striker knows South African football well and will be eager to make a statement against familiar opposition.

For South Africa, the occasion presents both a tactical challenge and an opportunity to strengthen their position in Group D. Bafana have enjoyed an encouraging start to their qualifying campaign, but the back-to-back meetings with Kenya will test their consistency as the competition intensifies.

Pitso Mosimane - SAFA

Bafana head into the November international window with confidence following an impressive September campaign that yielded three victories from three matches.

They began their AFCON qualifying journey with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Guinea in Johannesburg before producing a commanding display to thrash Eritrea 5-0 in Cairo. The team then maintained their momentum with a 1-0 victory over Egypt in an international friendly, rounding off a successful run against African opposition.

The results have strengthened South Africa’s standing on the international stage, with Bafana climbing to 48th in the latest FIFA World Rankings and occupying 10th place among African nations.

The Bafana Bafana team that beat Egypt 1-0 in Cairo - SAFA

That progress will provide a further boost as the team looks to build on its recent performances and establish itself as a leading contender for a place at the 2027 tournament.

However, Kenya will present a different challenge. With McCarthy at the helm, the Harambee Stars will be motivated to disrupt South Africa’s momentum and take valuable points from the two encounters. The Kenyan coach’s familiarity with Bafana’s footballing environment could add another layer of intrigue to an already compelling contest.

McCarthy enjoyed a distinguished playing career, representing South Africa on the international stage and featuring for several prominent European clubs. His appointment as Kenya coach has given him a new opportunity to make his mark in African football, and a positive result against Bafana would be a significant achievement.

Kenya coach, Benni McCarthy when he still called the Orlando Stadium home - X

The first meeting in Johannesburg will give South Africa the chance to use home advantage to set the tone for the double-header. However, the return fixture in Nairobi could prove equally important, particularly if the opening encounter leaves little to separate the two teams.

For Bafana, the objective will be clear: collect maximum points, maintain their position at the top of Group D and take another important step towards qualifying for the 2027 AFCON.

With national pride, qualifying points and McCarthy’s return to South African opposition all adding to the occasion, the November clashes promise to be among the most compelling fixtures of Bafana’s campaign so far.

Puso Dithejane scored the winning goal against Egypt - SAFA

South Africa will host the Harambee Stars at Orlando Arena in Johannesburg on Friday, 13 November, with kick-off scheduled for 18:00. The two sides will then travel to Nairobi for the return fixture on Tuesday, 17 November, setting the stage for two potentially decisive encounters in the race for continental qualification.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport