Bafana Bafana vs Eritrea LIVE — Scores, goals, updates, AFCON 2027 qualifier result

Bafana Bafana are back in action against Eritrea on Wednesday, 30 September, in their second AFCON 2027 qualifier of the window, live from the Al Salam Stadium in Cairo.

Kick-off is set for 18:00 SAST, with South Africa looking to build on a winning start to Group D.

Follow Bafana Bafana vs Eritrea LIVE here:

Eritrea vs Bafana Bafana: Kick-off

Competition: AFCON 2027 qualifiers, Group D, Matchday 2
Date: Wednesday, 30 September 2026
Kick-off: 18:00 SAST
Venue: Al Salam Stadium, Cairo (neutral venue)

Teboho Mokoena of Bafana Bafana in training, Image: SAFA

How South Africa arrive

Pitso Mosimane’s side opened their campaign with a 2-1 win over Guinea on Matchday 1, a result that puts them top of Group D heading into the Eritrea match.

Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane. Image: SAFA

That form follows a strong showing at the 2026 World Cup, where South Africa reached the Round of 16 before bowing out 1-0 to Canada — and their defensive discipline has carried over into this campaign, with four of their last five matches finishing under 2.5 goals.

It hasn’t been entirely smooth going into the squad, though. Aubrey Modiba is a doubt with hamstring tightness, and Mosimane is already without five players from his World Cup squad through injury. Even so, he has a strong pool to call on, naming a 30-man squad that includes 13 Mamelodi Sundowns players.

How Eritrea arrive

Eritrea head into the match on the back of a battling 1-1 draw away to Kenya, a result that came despite being heavily outplayed on the underlying numbers — Eritrea’s expected goals tally from that match was just 0.62 against Kenya’s 2.80. They reached this point after seeing off Eswatini 4-1 on aggregate in the preliminary round, and remain unbeaten since their current coach took charge (three played, two won, one drawn).

Ryan Ogam of Kenya vs Eritrea, Image: FKF

Their build-up has been complicated by team news of their own: defender Jamal Ali was stretchered off after just 23 minutes of the Kenya draw, with his availability for this match uncertain, while the squad is also missing seven domestic-based players following defections earlier this year.

Head-to-head

This is the first-ever meeting between the two nations. For South Africa, it’s a landmark of sorts — Eritrea become the 50th different African opponent Bafana Bafana have faced since the country’s return to international football in 1992.

Stay with us for updates, goals and the final result as South Africa look to make it two wins from two in Group D.