Kick-off is set for 15:00 local time (13:00 GMT). The fixture forms part of Matchday 1 in Group D, which also includes co-hosts Kenya and Eritrea.
South Africa, under head coach Pitso Mosimane, will host the Syli National in what is expected to be a competitive opening encounter. Kenya’s automatic qualification as co-hosts means only one additional place from the group is available for the finals, placing added importance on every result between Bafana Bafana, Guinea and Eritrea.
Orlando Stadium, the traditional home of Orlando Pirates and a venue with a capacity of just over 37,000, has regularly hosted national team matches and major domestic cup finals. The choice of the Soweto ground gives South African supporters a central and accessible location for the first home qualifier of the campaign.
Guinea had previously raised security concerns linked to incidents of xenophobic violence in South Africa and requested a possible venue change. However, the match remains scheduled on South African soil, with CAF confirming the details in recent communications.
Bafana Bafana open their qualifying campaign with this home fixture before travelling to face Eritrea later in the same international window. The November window will then bring a double-header against Kenya, while the final two matches against Guinea (away) and Eritrea (home) are scheduled for March 2027.
The 2027 AFCON finals will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda from 19 June to 17 July. South Africa will be aiming to secure qualification early under Mosimane, who recently returned for a second spell in charge of the national team following Hugo Broos’ departure after the 2026 World Cup.
Tickets and further match-day information are expected to be released by the South African Football Association in the coming weeks. The fixture marks the formal start of Bafana Bafana’s bid to return to the continental finals.