Pitso Mosimane's second stint as Bafana Bafana head coach got off to a winning start, as goals from Ime Okon and Samukele Kabini earned South Africa a 2-1 win over Guinea at Orlando Amstel Arena in Saturday's Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027 qualifier.
Mosimane's re-appointment as South Africa boss was announced on September 1. He had previously been in charge from 2010-2012, and is now back to succeed Hugo Broos following Bafana's round of 32 exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
That was the first time South Africa made the knockout rounds of a FIFA World Cup tournament, but they still have not won the Africa Cup of Nations since 1996 despite a third-place finish at the 2023 tournament -- held belatedly in 2024 in Ivory Coast.
Bafana were below par at AFCON 2025, where they were eliminated in the round of 16 in Morocco. Mosimane has been tasked with taking them back to the top of Africa -- repeating his continental club triumphs at CAF Champions League level with Mamelodi Sundowns (once) and Al Ahly (twice).
Given that Kenya are in this qualifying group, South Africa need to top Group D to be guaranteed a spot in the tournament. Mosimane's return is off to a winning start, with Eritrea drawing 1-1 to Kenya in the other clash in the group on Saturday.
South Africa will face Eritrea in Cairo next on Wednesday, Sep. 30.