Bafana Learn AFCON 2027 Fate as Attention Remains on World Cup Mission
South Africa national football team now know the teams standing in their path to the 2027 CAF Africa Cup of Nations after Tuesday afternoon’s qualifying draw in Cairo, Egypt.
Bafana Bafana were drawn in Group D alongside co-hosts Kenya, Guinea and Eritrea as the qualification journey for the continental tournament officially got underway.
The draw was conducted at the headquarters of the Egyptian Football Association, where 48 nations were divided into 12 groups for the qualification campaign.
While the AFCON 2027 qualifiers now begin to take shape, South Africa’s immediate attention remains firmly fixed on the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Bafana are preparing for the global tournament, which will be hosted by United States, Canada and Mexico from 11 June to 19 July.
South Africa have been placed in Group A alongside hosts Mexico, South Korea and the Czech Republic in what promises to be a challenging group-stage campaign.
The AFCON qualifying draw therefore arrives during an important period for Hugo Broos’ side, with the national team balancing preparations for the world’s biggest football tournament while also plotting a route back to continental success.
Group D presents a mix of challenges for Bafana.
Guinea are expected to provide stern competition with their physical and technically gifted squad, while Kenya will carry the momentum and excitement of being one of the AFCON 2027 hosts.
Eritrea complete the group and will be hoping to upset more established opponents during the campaign.
The 2027 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda from 19 June to 17 July 2027.
The qualification campaign will be played across three international windows, with nations battling for places at the continental finals.
For Bafana Bafana, the road ahead is now clearer – but with a FIFA World Cup campaign arriving before AFCON qualifying intensifies, the national team faces one of its most demanding and defining periods in recent years.
Bafana Learn AFCON 2027 Fate as Attention Remains on World Cup Mission (Image: Orlando Pirates)