AFCON 2027 Qualifiers: South Africa Perfect After Six From Six, As Egypt and Guinea-Bissau Make Statements

Two rounds into the race for PAMOJA 2027, and Bafana Bafana are making the kind of statement their fans have been waiting for.

South Africa: Six points, eleven goals, zero conceded

Pitso Mosimane’s side put on a show in Cairo, thrashing Eritrea 5-0 — Relebohile Mofokeng grabbing a brace, with Sphephelo Sithole, Iqraam Rayners and Luther Singh also on the scoresheet. Add that to their opening 2-1 win over Guinea, and South Africa sit top of Group D with a perfect six points and a goal difference that’s already doing serious work.

It’s not a comfortable group, though. Guinea bounced back from their own Matchday One defeat in style, beating co-hosts Kenya 1-0 to move onto three points. With Kenya already through as co-hosts, that result matters hugely — it means South Africa, Guinea and Eritrea are now the three genuinely fighting it out for Group D’s one qualifying spot, and Guinea have just served notice that they’re not making up the numbers.

The continent’s other big movers

South Africa aren’t alone at the perfect-record table. Morocco, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, DR Congo, Rwanda, Mali and Guinea-Bissau have all also won their opening two matches — a strong early field shaping up across the groups.

Egypt’s statement win

The Pharaohs served notice of their own, hammering South Sudan 5-0 with Omar Marmoush scoring twice, to move onto four points after their opening draw with Angola.

The shock of the round

Nobody saw this coming: Guinea-Bissau stunned Nigeria 3-0, with Franculino, Mama Baldé and Álvaro Djaló all finding the net. It’s now six points and just five goals scored without reply for Guinea-Bissau — while Nigeria, one of the continent’s traditional heavyweights, suddenly find themselves with real work to do.

Pressure building on the big names

Nigeria aren’t the only established power feeling the heat early — Ghana also find themselves staring up the table after a wild 4-2 defeat to The Gambia, having led that game 2-0 before an astonishing turnaround.

Tight races to watch

Groups F, H, I and J remain finely poised after two rounds, with barely a point separating the chasing pack in each. One Matchday Two fixture is still to be played — Angola vs Malawi in Group B, set for Tuesday 6 October.

Qualifiers resume in November — can South Africa keep their perfect run going, and can Nigeria and Ghana respond before the gap opens further?