Bafana Kenya result: so close to three from three
Soweto had started counting. A 2-1 lead, the clock past 80 minutes, and a third win from three in this qualifying campaign was nearly in the bag for Pitso Mosimane. Then a long ball bounced awkwardly, one defender misjudged it, and Benni McCarthy’s Kenya had their point.
The Bafana Kenya result: South Africa 2, Kenya 2, in Group D of AFCON 2027 qualifying at the Orlando Amstel Arena on Friday night. An own goal by Amos Wanjala and a Relebohile Mofokeng finish put Bafana Bafana ahead twice. Michael Olunga’s penalty just before half-time and a late goal from substitute Ryan Ogam pulled Kenya level both times. ESPN’s full-time match data, AfricaSoccer, The Citizen and iDiski Times all give the 2-2.
| Detail | |
|---|---|
| Result | South Africa 2-2 Kenya |
| Half-time | 1-1 |
| South Africa goals | Amos Wanjala own goal (9′), Relebohile Mofokeng (77′) |
| Kenya goals | Michael Olunga (penalty, just before half-time), Ryan Ogam (a minute from time) |
| Venue | Orlando Stadium, Soweto |
| Group D | South Africa 7 points from three games, Kenya 2 |
| Next | Kenya v South Africa, Nairobi, Tuesday |
A gift, then a handball
Ronwen Williams was busy inside the first minute, tipping an overhead kick from Adam Wilson over the bar, The Citizen reports.
The lead came from a Kenyan mistake. After a loose pass from Frank Odhiambo, Wanjala was hurried by Mofokeng, and his ball back beat his own goalkeeper and rolled in. Nine minutes gone.
Bafana should have built on it. Tshepang Moremi fired over after Mofokeng set him up, and Kenya’s goalkeeper saved well from Iqraam Rayners. Instead, just before the break, a Kenyan delivery struck Thabang Matuludi on the arm in the box, the referee gave the penalty, and Olunga sent Williams the wrong way. The Citizen and iDiski Times both count it as the captain’s 35th goal for Kenya.
Woodwork, then the moment
Mofokeng curled a shot against the woodwork early in the second half. On 57 minutes, ESPN’s data shows, Mosimane sent on Lyle Foster and Puso Dithejane for Rayners and Moremi. Foster headed one over, The Citizen notes.
Then it clicked. Oswin Appollis was involved in the move, Foster cut the ball back, and Relebohile Mofokeng finished it on 77 minutes. iDiski Times calls it his third senior international goal.
It lasted about twelve minutes. Olwethu Makhanya misjudged a bouncing ball, and Ogam, on as a substitute, got goal-side of him and beat Williams with a low shot. Ogam had promised before the trip that Kenya would not sit back, as our Bafana v Kenya preview reported. He kept his word.
What the coaches said
McCarthy was content with the shape of it. “I thought we played a good game of football, a little too basketball like for my liking,” he said after the match, in iDiski Times’ report. He explained that he had moved to three at the back after the opening goal: “We changed into a back-three and then the wing-backs occupied the full-backs.” His verdict: “In the end I think it was a deserved draw for both teams.”
Mosimane had less patience. Asked whether Mbekezeli Mbokazi, who did not start, should have played instead of Makhanya, he pushed back hard. “Now you choose who must play. So we lost because of that or we lost because we missed many chances, come on,” he said, iDiski Times reported. More on the coach on our Pitso Mosimane page.
Our view: this is ScoreLine’s opinion. Mosimane has the better of the argument on the night. ESPN’s figures give Bafana 62% of the ball, and the chances list is long: Moremi, Rayners, the woodwork, Foster’s header. But both Kenyan goals came from moments Bafana could have controlled, a handball and a bouncing ball. Against a side with nothing to lose, the sharp edge has to be at both ends.
What it means for Group D
Bafana still lead the group on seven points from three games, a point above Guinea, The Citizen and iDiski Times report. Kenya have two. Because Kenya co-host the finals and are already through, only one of South Africa, Guinea and Eritrea joins them, which makes every dropped point heavier. Our AFCON 2027 Group D explainer walks through the maths, and the AFCON 2027 qualifiers guide has the campaign so far.
The two sides meet again in Nairobi on Tuesday. McCarthy will want more control. Mosimane will want the chances taken.