Bafana Bafana Dominate Eritrea 5-0 in Thrilling AFCON Qualifier

Bafana Bafana have continued their impressive resurgence under coach Pitso Mosimane, securing a dominant 5-0 victory against Eritrea in Cairo, Egypt, as part of their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign. This emphatic win, following a 2-1 triumph over Guinea, propels South Africa further up the FIFA rankings and strengthens their position in Group D, where they are now vying for qualification against Guinea and Eritrea, with co-hosts Kenya automatically qualified.

The match against Eritrea, held at the Al Salam Stadium in Cairo on Wednesday, September 30, kicked off at 18:00 SAST. Eritrea were designated as the home side, but the fixture was moved to Egypt due to their stadiums not meeting international requirements. South Africa entered the clash brimming with confidence after their opening victory over Guinea at Orlando Amstel Arena, where Ime Okon and Samukele Kabini secured the points. However, Mosimane had urged his players not to underestimate Eritrea, who had previously held Kenya to a 1-1 draw in Nairobi, a result that showcased their ability to frustrate opponents away from home. Pitso Mosimane made two changes to his starting lineup from the Guinea match, with Samukele Kabini and Bathusi Aubaas replacing the injured Aubrey Modiba and Teboho Mokoena. Mosimane had also identified Eritrean striker Ali Suleiman as a key player to watch, while Eritrea's squad included several diaspora-based players, coached by Egyptian Hesham Yakan.

The game started with early action, as Eritrea launched a fast counter-attack in the 2nd minute, forcing a corner from Bafana's goalkeeper Williams. South Africa responded quickly, with Makhanya's diagonal finding Sebelebele. In the 5th minute, Eritrea missed a big opportunity as Yohannes shot wide. Bafana Bafana suffered an early setback when midfielder Bathusi Aubaas pulled a muscle in the 11th minute and was replaced by Poggenpoel, who made his official competitive debut. However, the momentum quickly shifted in South Africa's favour. Relebohile Mofokeng, who had earlier hit the post with an electric shot in the 10th minute, coolly slotted away Bafana's first goal in the 19th minute, courtesy of a wonderful through ball from Oswin Appollis.

Mofokeng continued his masterclass, netting his second goal just before half-time in the 45th minute, displaying an unbelievable dribble past two Eritrean defenders before smashing into the corner. Eritrea's Makhanya received a yellow card in the 33rd minute. The second half saw South Africa extend their advantage swiftly. In the 52nd minute, Appollis' shot was spilled by the Eritrean goalkeeper, allowing Sphephelo Sithole to tap home inside the box. Iqraam Rayners then smashed home from a tight angle on the far left in the 63rd minute, with Appollis providing another assist, making it 4-0. Coach Mosimane made a triple substitution in the 73rd minute, bringing on Seema, Singh, and Mailula for Rayners, Makhanya, and Maseko. Despite Eritrea's late push for a consolation goal, goalkeeper Ronwen Williams made two brilliant successive saves in the 85th minute to preserve the clean sheet. The rout was completed in the 90th minute when Luther Singh tapped in from close range after receiving Appollis' third assist of the evening, sealing a comprehensive 5-0 victory for South Africa.

The dominant performance also addressed mounting questions about Bafana Bafana’s scoring duties, particularly concerning their strikers. With Lyle Foster and Evidence Makgopa unavailable, Iqraam Rayners and Yanela Mbuthuma were the primary options. Rayners' goal in the Eritrea match helped to quell discussions about a striker drought, which had seen previous goals coming from defenders Ime Okon and Samukele Kabini against Guinea, winger Thapelo Maseko against South Korea, and midfielder Teboho Mokoena against the Czech Republic. The last time a striker had scored was in a friendly against Jamaica in June 2026, where Lyle Foster found the net. Mosimane had been frank about the lack of experience and limited options upfront, making Rayners' contribution particularly significant.

In the wake of these victories, Bafana Bafana continued their climb in the FIFA rankings, moving up one place from 50th to 49th globally, according to provisional rankings, surpassing Czechia. This achievement is particularly significant for Mosimane, as it marks South Africa's return to the global top 50 for the first time since October 2011, a period that coincided with his first spell as head coach when Bafana Bafana also reached 49th in the world. Captain Ronwen Williams also highlighted the positive spirit and energy within the squad, crediting the players' responsiveness to Mosimane's tactical changes.

For Pitso Mosimane, the return to Cairo carried additional personal significance. The city holds a special place in his coaching legacy, as he spent nearly two years (September 2020 – June 2022) as coach of Al Ahly SC. During his tenure, Mosimane achieved remarkable success, guiding the club to back-to-back CAF Champions League titles, the CAF Super Cup, and consecutive bronze medals in the FIFA Club World Cup, alongside domestic triumphs in the Egyptian Premier League and Egypt Cup. Despite his impressive statistics (65 wins, 22 draws, 10 losses in 97 matches), his time in Egypt was marred by intense criticism, which some, like Egypt icon Mido, described as racist. Mosimane departed Al Ahly by mutual consent in June 2022, satisfied with his accomplishments. His current return to Cairo for the AFCON qualifier and an upcoming international friendly against Egypt on October 4th presents an opportunity for him to build on his Bafana Bafana achievements and potentially