Bafana Bafana are facing a worrying start to their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign, with several key players set to miss the opening fixtures and uncertainty surrounding the national team’s coaching situation.

South Africa will begin their Group D campaign against Guinea before travelling to face Eritrea.

CAF has confirmed that the first two qualifying matchdays will take place between 21 September and 6 October 2026.

The latest injury setback has come in the form of Khuliso Mudau, who suffered an Achilles rupture during Mamelodi Sundowns’ 2-0 victory over Marumo Gallants.

The 31-year-old right-back is expected to be sidelined for several months and will therefore miss Bafana Bafana’s opening AFCON qualifiers.

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso confirmed the severity of the injury, saying Mudau would require specialist treatment and surgery.

Mudau joins a growing list of South African internationals unavailable to the national team.

Mbokazi and Mokoena also sidelined

Mbekezeli Mbokazi is another major absentee after suffering a serious thigh muscle injury while with Chicago Fire.

The defender has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2026 MLS season, meaning he too will miss Bafana Bafana’s September qualifiers.

Midfielder Teboho Mokoena is also currently sidelined with an ankle injury.

Mokoena has established himself as an important figure in the Bafana Bafana midfield, making his absence another significant selection problem for the national team.

Other players reported to be dealing with injuries include Thalente Mbatha, Evidence Makgopa and Bradley Cross, leaving Bafana Bafana with a significantly depleted squad when preparations for the qualifiers begin.

Coaching situation adds to uncertainty

The player availability problems come at a time of transition for Bafana Bafana.

Hugo Broos stepped down after his contract expired at the end of July, bringing an end to his five-year spell in charge.

During his tenure, Broos guided South Africa to third place at the 2023 AFCON and, most recently, to the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

SAFA’s National Executive Committee subsequently approved Pitso Mosimane as Broos’ successor, although reports indicated that final contractual details still needed to be resolved.

The uncertainty is particularly significant given the limited preparation time before the AFCON qualifiers.

Mosimane, if formally installed in time, will inherit a squad that has already lost several important players to injury and will need to quickly identify replacements and establish his preferred tactical approach.

READ | SAFA and Pitso Mosimane at loggerheads over Bafana Bafana job

Easy Group D awaits

South Africa were drawn in Group D alongside Guinea, Eritrea and Kenya.

The group presents an intriguing challenge, particularly with Kenya coached by former Bafana striker Benni McCarthy.

Bafana Bafana’s opening fixtures are therefore likely to be crucial in setting the tone for their qualification campaign.

After the Guinea and Eritrea matches in September, South Africa will face Kenya twice in November before the final two qualifying rounds take place in March 2027.

Rankings

The 2027 tournament, will be hosted jointly by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

As a result, Kenya will qualify from Group D no matter where they finish in the final standings. They will be joined by one other team from the group.

According to the latest FIFA rankings, Bafana Bafana should have no trouble qualifying.

South Africa are ranked 54th, with Guinea in 81st spot, Kenya in 109th place, and Eritrea down in 184th.

With the AFCON qualifiers fast approaching, Bafana Bafana face a race against time to overcome their injury problems, finalise their coaching structure and ensure that the momentum generated by their historic World Cup campaign is not lost.