Bafana’s AFCON 2027 path runs through co-host Kenya — and a qualification twist

South Africa have been drawn in the same AFCON 2027 qualifying group as tournament co-hosts Kenya, setting up a series with extra edge given Benni McCarthy’s involvement in the Kenyan setup. The presence of an automatically qualified host changes the maths of the group and could reshape how Bafana manage points, pressure and squad rotation across a tight calendar.