South Africa beat Guinea 2-1 at Orlando Stadium in Soweto. Ime Okon scored in the 30th minute. Seydouba Cissé equalised in the 69th. Substitute Samukele Kabini won it in the 77th. The result gave Pitso Mosimane a winning start to his latest spell as Bafana coach.
Kenya drew 1-1 with Eritrea at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi. Nahom Girmai put Eritrea ahead in the 36th minute. Ryan Ogam equalised in the 87th.
Saturday results
- South Africa 2-1 Guinea — Okon 30’, Kabini 77’; Cissé 69’
- Kenya 1-1 Eritrea — Ogam 87’; Girmai 36’
Both ties were in Group D. Kenya qualify automatically as co-hosts of the 2027 finals with Uganda and Tanzania. Only one of the other three teams in the group will join them. South Africa sit on three points. Eritrea and Kenya have one each. Guinea have none.
Fourteen matches were played on Friday, including wins for Nigeria, Morocco, Algeria and Mali, and draws for Egypt and Senegal. Thursday’s programme opened the group stage with victories for Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon and DR Congo.
Matchday 2 begins on Monday. South Africa play Eritrea in Cairo on Wednesday. Guinea host Kenya a day later.
Saturday closed the first weekend of qualifying with three points for Mosimane and a late scare for the co-hosts in Nairobi.