South Africa's all-time men's record goalscorer, Benni McCarthy, will lead his Kenya side to the Orlando Amstel Arena for Friday's African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Pitso Mosimane's Bafana Bafana.
McCarthy netted 31 times for South Africa in a 15-year on-and-off international career which included time working under Mosimane during the latter's stint as assistant coach. Mosimane and McCarthy later faced off as coaches when 'Jingles' was at Mamelodi Sundowns and McCarthy in charge of Cape Town City.
The gap between Mosimane's Bafana and McCarthy's Harambee Stars is even bigger on paper than the chasm between the Brazilians and the Citizens at the time of their previous clashes.
However, as co-hosts of the 2027 tournament along with Tanzania and Uganda, Kenya are assured a place at next year's tournament. South Africa, meanwhile, need to finish above Guinea and Eritrea to book their place.
South Africa beat Guinea 2-1 in the first game of Mosimane's second stint before a 5-0 win over Eritrea and a 1-0 friendly win over Egypt.
Kenya could use a boost in form after a 1-1 draw with Eritrea, 1-0 loss to Guinea and 0-0 friendly draw with Rwanda over the last international break.
After South Africa's home game on Friday, the teams will face off again next Tuesday (Nov. 17) in Nairobi.
Key details
Date: Friday, Nov. 13 at 6 p.m. CAT (4 p.m. GMT, 5 p.m. CET)
Venue: Orlando Amstel Arena (Orlando Stadium)
How to watch: The match will air on SABC 3 (DSTV channel 193) and SuperSport's DSTV channel 202.
Team news
Houston Dynamo FC's Lyle Foster was recalled to the Bafana Bafana squad after missing out over the last international break - reportedly amid struggles at the time to gain full fitness.
Chicago Fire FC centre-back Mbekezeli Mbokazi is back from injury. Pitso Mosimane received a boost when Ronwen Williams and Teboho Mokoena returned to action in Mamelodi Sundowns' 3-1 CAF Super Cup defeat to USM Alger, having both spent time out of action due to injury.
Expected lineups
South Africa
GK Ronwen Williams
LB Aubrey Modiba | CB Mbekezeli Mbokazi | CB Olwethu Makhanya | RB Thabang Matuludi
CM Teboho Mokoena | CM Brooklyn Poggenpoel
LW Oswin Appollis | AM Relebohile Mofokeng | RW Puso Dithejane
Kenya
GK Byrne Omondi
LB Manzur Okwaro | CB Frank Odhiambo | CB Michael Kibwage | RB Rooney Onyango
CM Chris Erambo | CM Timothy Ouma | CM Duke Abuya
LW Shariff Musa | ST Michael Olunga | RW Job Ochieng
Stats
Benni McCarthy has a net positive record against Pitso Mosimane in their duels as head coaches, winning 4, drawing 1 and losing 3 of their 8 clashes.
With wins in all of his first 3 games since rejoining Bafana Bafana as head coach, Pitso Mosimane has eclipsed his record in the first 3 games of his first stint (2 W, 1 D).