Bafana Bafana coach Mosimane wary of ‘nothing to lose’ McCarthy: It is tricky

Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane insists his players can’t afford to underrate Benni McCarthy’s Harambee Stars when the two nations lock horns on Friday evening.

South Africa lead Group D with maximum points from the initial two rounds, while Kenya have managed one. Guine, who have played a game more, have six points, while Eritrea are at the bottom with none.

Kenya have already qualified for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) by virtue of being co-hosts, alongside Tanzania and Uganda. Only one team from the group will join the Harambee Stars for the biennial competition that will be played next year in East Africa.

It of for the above reason that ‘Jingles’ has warned his stars that it will not be easy playing Kenya at the Orlando Stadium.

Kenya can frustrate us

“It’s tricky. We’re playing a team who have nothing to lose. They are already qualified, they have nothing to lose, they are playing without fear,” Mosimane opened up to the media.

“They can go full out or frustrate us by making sure we don’t get a goal. Whichever way they approach it, you can’t tell them how they must play.

“They have resilience and can reinforce their defence, which they must do against us. If they go toe-to-toe, the result doesn’t matter as much to them, but it’s a big match for us, a tough game for us.

“We have to have answers. We have to win the match if we want to go to the AFCON finals,” Mosimane concluded.