Benni McCarthy Handed Emotional South Africa Return as Bafana Settle on His Hometown for Harambee Stars Clash

South Africa will stage their upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations Group D qualifier against Kenya in Cape Town next month, setting the stage for an emotional homecoming for Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy.

McCarthy was born in Cape Town and grew up in the gang-ridden streets of Hanover Park on the Cape Flats before reaching the grandest stages of world football as a player and returned home as a tactician with his first job as head coach being at Cape Town City FC.

The fixture is scheduled for Friday, November 13, according to reports from Mzansi Football. With Kenya already assured of a place at the finals as co-hosts alongside Tanzania and Uganda, only one additional qualification spot remains up for grabs in Group D.

Pitso Mosimane’s side will enter the November international window with strong momentum after kicking off their campaign with consecutive victories—a 2-1 home triumph over Guinea followed by an emphatic 5-0 rout of Eritrea in Cairo. Securing maximum points across the upcoming home-and-away double-header against Kenya would leave Bafana Bafana on the brink of booking their ticket to the continental showpiece.

However, McCarthy's charges will be determined to disrupt South Africa's plans and reignite their own form in what promises to be a fiercely contested encounter.

Historically, Cape Town has been a testing venue for the South African national team. Across 14 fixtures played in the city—including African Nations Championship (CHAN) tournaments—Bafana have registered five victories, six defeats, and three draws.

At the iconic Cape Town Stadium, the 2010 World Cup venue where the qualifier will be contested, the record stands balanced with four wins, four losses, and two draws. Their most recent appearance in the city was in March, when they suffered a 2-1 defeat to Panama despite a spectacular strike from Mbekezeli Mbokazi.

South Africa's history in the Mother City dates back to July 1992, when they fell 2-1 to Cameroon at the Goodwood Showgrounds. Their most decisive triumph in the city came in 2024, cruising to a 3-0 victory over South Sudan.

Kenya started their AFCON 2027 qualifiers with a 1-1 draw at home to Eritrea before losing 1-0 away to Guinea.