2027 AFCON Qualifiers: South Africa crushes Eritrea 5-0 and leads Group D

South Africa defeated Eritrea 5-0 on September 30, 2026, at the Al-Salam Stadium in Cairo, during the second matchday of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The Bafana Bafana have six points out of six and take sole possession of the lead in Group D, according to the South African Football Association (SAFA).

Mofokeng, man of the match

Relebohile Mofokeng opened the scoring in the 19th minute and then doubled the lead in first-half stoppage time (45+1). Yaya Sithole (52nd), Iqraam Rayners (62nd), and Luther Singh (90th+) completed the tally. In goal, captain Ronwen Williams made several saves that kept a clean sheet, SAFA detailed.

The match was played in Egypt on neutral ground: according to the Daily Maverick, Eritrea does not have facilities that meet CAF standards, a constraint that once again deprives an African national team of its home-field advantage.

Seven goals in two outings for Pitso Mosimane

Four days earlier, on September 26, 2026, South Africa had launched its campaign with a 2-1 victory over Guinea, with two goals scored by defenders, Ime Okon and Samukele Kabini. That makes seven goals scored in two matches for the start of Pitso Mosimane's second term at the helm of the Bafana Bafana.

The coach, who is in his second stint leading the South African national team, refuses to get carried away. "It's a good start," he summarized according to the Daily Maverick, while inviting his group to keep their feet on the ground.

A Group D already lopsided

With Guinea and Eritrea as identified opponents in this group, South Africa has taken a serious option on qualification. The 5-0 win in Cairo, where the team scored in both halves and rotated its attack, confirms that Mosimane's group has found chemistry quickly despite the little time spent together.

The remainder of the qualifiers will show whether this opening performance was a demonstration of strength or the effect of a favorable schedule. For now, the message sent from Cairo is clear: South Africa is moving forward as a unit, and its attack has found solutions again.