- 1 South Africa vs Kenya: Olunga returns, McCarthy faces Bafana in Soweto
- 2 South Africa: three wins from three under Mosimane, seven goals in two qualifiers
- 3 Kenya: co-hosts already, one point from two and Olunga back in the squad
- 4 Free Football Prediction: South Africa vs Kenya
- 5 About our free predictions
- 6 No commitment from us
- 7 Information changes
- 8 Your responsibility
- 9 Responsible gambling
- 10 Legal age
- 11 About visuals
South Africa vs Kenya: Olunga returns, McCarthy faces Bafana in Soweto 
Michael Olunga has 34 goals for Kenya and needs two more to become the country’s all-time leading scorer. The Al-Arabi striker is back in the squad for the first time since 5 September 2025 after a long-term pelvic injury, and his first game back is in Soweto.
South Africa host Kenya on Friday 13 November at Orlando Stadium, kick-off 18:00 local time and 16:00 UK time, on matchday three of Group D in qualifying for AFCON 2027. The return fixture is at the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi on Tuesday 17 November.
Kenya are already in the finals as co-hosts with Tanzania and Uganda, so these games are preparation for them. That leaves one qualifying place in Group D for South Africa, Guinea and Eritrea, and South Africa lead with six points from two wins, seven goals scored and one conceded.
Guinea are second on three points after beating Kenya 1-0 in Conakry, and Eritrea have one point from their draw in Nairobi. A home win on Friday would keep South Africa at least three points clear of Guinea, and wins in both games this week would take them to 12 points with two group games left.
The touchline carries its own story. Benni McCarthy, Kenya’s coach, is South Africa’s all-time top scorer with 32 goals in 80 caps, and he faces a Bafana side that has won all three of its games under Pitso Mosimane.
Kenya have one point from their two qualifiers and have failed to score in five of their last 10 matches. We expect Mosimane’s record to become four wins from four.
South Africa: three wins from three under Mosimane, seven goals in two qualifiers 
Mosimane’s first game was a 2-1 win over Guinea at this ground in late September, with Ime Okon opening the scoring and Samukelo Kabini winning it 13 minutes from time. Four days later South Africa beat Eritrea 5-0 in Cairo, where Eritrea staged their home game.
Relebohile Mofokeng, now at Union Saint-Gilloise, scored twice in Cairo, in the 19th minute and just before half-time. Sphephelo Sithole, Iqraam Rayners and Luther Singh scored the others.
Puso Dithejane then scored on his debut in a 1-0 friendly win over Egypt in Cairo on 4 October. Before Mosimane took over, South Africa’s World Cup ended with a 1-0 defeat to Canada in the round of 32 on 28 June.
Mbekezeli Mbokazi of Chicago Fire is back after injury, and Siyanda Ndlovu of Mamelodi Sundowns has his first call-up. Themba Zwane has been left out of the 27-man squad.
Captain Ronwen Williams and Teboho Mokoena both have minor problems, with a decision expected late. If Williams misses out, Sipho Chaine or Ricardo Goss would start in goal.
South Africa are averaging 3.5 goals a game in this campaign and are trying to reach a third Africa Cup of Nations in a row, after bronze in 2023 and the last 16 in 2025. Lyle Foster of Houston Dynamo is the likely central striker, with Oswin Appollis and Mofokeng either side of Dithejane behind him.
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Kenya: co-hosts already, one point from two and Olunga back in the squad 
Kenya drew 1-1 with Eritrea at the Nyayo National Stadium on matchday one, Nahom Girmai Netabay scoring for the visitors after 36 minutes and Ryan Ogam equalising three minutes from time. On 1 October they lost 1-0 in Conakry to a Serhou Guirassy goal in the 32nd minute.
A 0-0 friendly against Rwanda in Kigali in early October meant McCarthy’s side finished the window without a win. Their last victory was 4-0 against Lesotho on 7 June, with two goals from Mohammed Bajaber.
Kenya have never scored from open play against South Africa. The four previous meetings produced three South Africa wins and a 1-1 draw in 2002, and both Kenyan goals in that record came from the penalty spot.
McCarthy’s position has come under scrutiny in Kenya, with reports of salary payment problems with his employers. His 24-man squad includes Wrexham’s Zak Vyner, Real Sociedad’s Job Ochieng and Eric Marcelo Ouma of Raków alongside Olunga.
Manzur Okwaro of Reims is a doubt, with Alpha Onyango reported as his replacement. Byrne Omondi of Gor Mahia is expected in goal behind a defence including Vincent Harper, Frank Odhiambo and Sylvester Owino.
Kenya sit 66 places below South Africa in the FIFA ranking. Ogam, who scored the late equaliser against Eritrea, and Micah Obiero are the likely partners for Olunga, with Bajaber, the scorer of two goals against Lesotho in June, in support.
Probable lineup South Africa: Williams; Matuludi, Okon, Mbokazi, Modiba; Mokoena, Sithole; Appollis, Mofokeng, Dithejane; Foster
Probable lineup Kenya: Omondi; Onyango, Harper, Odhiambo, Owino; Ochieng, Okwaro, Bajaber, Olunga; Ogam, Obiero
Free Football Prediction: South Africa vs Kenya
Our prediction: South Africa to win to nil
We’re backing South Africa to win to nil. They’ve conceded one goal in two qualifiers, Kenya have failed to score in five of their last 10 matches, and Kenya have never scored from open play against them in four meetings.
The argument against is Olunga. A fit Olunga improves Kenya’s attack, but he hasn’t played for his country since September 2025 and is coming back from a long-term pelvic injury.
Kenya’s place at the finals is secure as co-hosts, while South Africa can open a gap on Guinea before the return leg in Nairobi. We expect 2-0.
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