Pitso Mosimane’s dream return to Bafana Bafana hit its first roadblock on Friday with a disappointing 2-2 draw against Kenya. It’s not all doom and gloom, but if this team really wants to sit at the top of African football, this result and performance were far from good enough.
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South Africa have been superb in 2026. Their first ever run to the World Cup knockout stage carried into three wins from three under Mosimane, with strong AFCON qualifying wins over Guinea and Eritrea followed by a statement 1-0 win over Egypt in Cairo. That’s what made Friday so frustrating. The strength and confidence built up over the year hasn’t gone, but it has certainly taken a hit.
Kenya defended well and disrupted South Africa all night. They made 28 clearances to Bafana’s 15, and while Bafana had 62% of the ball and completed almost 500 passes, they managed only 11 shots, just one more than Kenya. Michael Olunga made Kenya’s count, scoring both goals to become the country’s all-time leading scorer.
Bafana couldn’t take control of the game and assert themselves the way we’ve seen them do in the past. There were passages where they were dominant, but it never felt like a game where the midfield and attack were dictating the tempo and forcing Kenya back.
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The equaliser will hurt the most. A costly mistake from Olwethu Makhanya let Olunga in, and it cost Bafana the win. It’s a lesson the young defender will learn from, and with Mbekezeli Mbokazi back in the squad, he will be under even more pressure to keep his place.
There are still plenty of positives. Relebohile Mofokeng now has three goals in his last two games and is growing into a leader on the pitch, and Bafana are inside the top 50 of the world rankings with players shining across Europe and North America. But if you want to be a big team in Africa, you have to win these matches.
For Benni McCarthy’s Kenya, this was the result they needed. They’ve already qualified as co-hosts, but they were playing for pride, and it showed. Despite being almost 70 places below South Africa in the world rankings, and despite players boycotting training over unpaid allowances and work permit issues for McCarthy and his staff, they gave Bafana everything.
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A point at home against Kenya isn’t a disaster, and Bafana are still top of Group D. But Guinea are now just a point behind, and with a tricky trip to Nairobi to come, the margin for error has gone. Win on Tuesday and Friday will be forgotten. Slip up again and the questions get much louder.
Photo: Alche Greeff/Gallo Images
