Orlando Amstel Arena to Host Bafana Bafana’s AFCON Qualifier Against Kenya
Orlando Amstel Arena will take center stage next month when it hosts Bafana Bafana’s important 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Kenya in Johannesburg. The venue has been selected for the first of two back-to-back Group D clashes that could have a major impact on South Africa’s qualification hopes.
Bafana Bafana will welcome Kenya on Friday, 13 November 2026, with kick-off scheduled for 18h00. The encounter marks another high-profile international fixture at the iconic Soweto venue, where South Africa will be looking to maintain its impressive form in front of home supporters.
Adding extra intrigue to the occasion is the presence of Kenya head coach Benni McCarthy. The former Bafana Bafana striker and South African football legend will return to familiar surroundings, this time leading the opposition as he attempts to derail his country’s qualification ambitions.
The Johannesburg showdown will be the opening chapter of a two-match series between the sides. After facing off at Orlando Amstel Arena, the teams will meet again in Nairobi on Tuesday, 17 November 2026, with six valuable points up for grabs across the two fixtures.
The decision to host the match at Orlando Amstel Arena reflects the growing importance of the fixture. With qualification stakes rising, South Africa will hope that the passionate atmosphere generated by local supporters provides another advantage for Pitso Mosimane’s side.
Mosimane’s return to the national team setup has already delivered promising results. Bafana Bafana recently enjoyed a perfect international window, winning all three matches played and building valuable momentum ahead of the November qualifiers.
South Africa opened the period with a 2-1 victory over Guinea in an AFCON qualifier before producing one of their most dominant performances in recent years with a commanding 5-0 win against Eritrea. The results strengthened the team’s position at the top of Group D.
The positive run continued with an impressive 1-0 away victory over Egypt in an international friendly. That result further underlined the progress being made under Mosimane, with Bafana Bafana showing defensive resilience and growing confidence.
Across the three matches, South Africa scored eight goals while conceding only once. The impressive return has raised expectations ahead of the double-header against Kenya, with two victories potentially placing Bafana Bafana in a commanding position in the race for qualification.
Meanwhile, supporters eager to witness the action at Orlando Amstel Arena can already secure their tickets through Ticketpro. Adult tickets are priced at R100, while children between the ages of five and 12 will pay R40. Stadium gates will open at 15h00 as fans prepare to pack the famous venue and rally behind Bafana Bafana in a potentially decisive AFCON qualifier.