South Africa vs Guinea will open Group D in the Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifying campaign on Saturday, September 26, with Bafana Bafana beginning a new era under returning head coach Pitso Mosimane.
The match is scheduled for Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg, with kickoff listed for 16:00 GMT, or 6 p.m. in South Africa, according to the published match details.
Table of Contents
South Africa vs Guinea sets the tone in Group D
South Africa enter the fixture as the home side, while Guinea arrive with one of the most recognisable attacking players in the group in Borussia Dortmund striker Serhou Guirassy.
Guinea coach Paulo Duarte has named a 25-man squad for the opening qualifiers against South Africa and Kenya, including the return of midfielder Ilaix Moriba and recalls for Madiou Keïta and Saïdou Sow.
Guirassy is expected to lead Guinea’s attack, while defender Aboubacar Keïta has received his first senior international call-up.
Guinea will also be without several established players, including Naby Keïta, Mohamed Mady Camara, Cheick Oumar Condé, Dembo Sylla, Morgan Guilavogui and Issiaga Sylla.
Mosimane begins another South Africa chapter
For South Africa, the fixture marks Mosimane’s return to the national team after he was reappointed ahead of the qualifying campaign.
Mosimane has selected a 30-player squad that retains much of the group involved at the 2026 FIFA World Cup while adding five players who have not previously received senior call-ups.
The new faces are Lebone Seema, Brooklyn Poggenpoel, Yanela Mbuthuma, Puso Dithejane and Tashreeq Matthews.
Experienced players such as goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, midfielder Teboho Mokoena and veteran attacker Themba Zwane remain part of the group expected to guide the team through the opening window.
The match is Mosimane’s first competitive assignment of his latest spell in charge and gives South Africa an immediate test against a Guinea side with significant individual quality.
Why the opening match matters
South Africa, Guinea, Kenya and Eritrea make up Group D, but the structure of the group adds importance to every result.
Kenya are co-hosts of the 2027 tournament alongside Tanzania and Uganda and are automatically qualified for the finals.
Under the qualifying format, the highest-placed team in Group D other than Kenya will secure the group’s remaining qualifying place, making the South Africa-Guinea meetings especially important.
That leaves little room for either South Africa or Guinea to surrender points in the early rounds, particularly with only six group matches scheduled for the teams competing for the available place.
Match details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | South Africa vs Guinea |
| Competition | AFCON 2027 qualifying, Group D |
| Date | Saturday, September 26, 2026 |
| Venue | Orlando Stadium, Johannesburg |
| Kickoff | 16:00 GMT |
| South African local time | 6 p.m. |
What comes next
South Africa will travel to a neutral venue in Cairo to face Eritrea on September 30, four days after the Guinea match.
Guinea will then host Kenya in Conakry on October 1 as the opening qualifying window continues.
South Africa are scheduled to remain in Egypt for a friendly against the hosts on October 4, giving Mosimane another opportunity to assess his squad outside the qualifying campaign.
The result in Johannesburg will therefore shape both the early Group D table and the mood around Mosimane’s return before South Africa’s quick turnaround against Eritrea.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is South Africa vs Guinea?
South Africa vs Guinea is scheduled for Saturday, September 26, 2026.
What time does South Africa vs Guinea start?
Kickoff is scheduled for 16:00 GMT, which is 6 p.m. local time in South Africa.
Where will South Africa vs Guinea be played?
The match is scheduled to take place at Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg.
What competition is South Africa vs Guinea in?
The fixture is an AFCON 2027 qualifying match in Group D.
Why is Group D especially important?
Kenya are automatically qualified as co-hosts, so South Africa, Guinea and Eritrea are competing for the group’s remaining qualifying place.
Fact-Checked: Key match details, squad information and Group D qualification rules were checked against CAF’s official fixtures and team announcements.
Disclaimer: Kickoff, venue and squad details can change if CAF or the participating football associations issue a late update.