Why Kenya’s Clash Against South Africa is the Perfect AFCON 2027 Test

The players who represented Kenya in the most recent international break are back with their clubs, but will reunite in a month for the next set of fixtures. November will see the Harambee Stars face South Africa as part of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches, which should be a welcome test for manager Benni McCarthy.

With Kenya co-hosting the tournament alongside Tanzania and Uganda, they have already automatically qualified for the competition. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) requires the host nations to play in qualifying matches to fulfil the schedule, but results have no impact on the team’s status.

A loss to Guinea and a draw to Eritrea have little bearing on Kenya’s hopes for the tournament. But the South Africa match is different, as it gives Kenya’s coaching staff a chance to see where their preparations stand.

South Africa will be a test for Kenya’s established stars

South Africa might not be ranked as high as the likes of Morocco, Senegal, or Egypt in FIFA’s World Rankings. But the 48th-best team in the world is still considerably higher than Kenya.

McCarthy’s team are ranked 114th heading into their match in November. A gap of over 60 places will make South Africa firm favourites with bookmakers, with the among the welcome offers available for South African readers ahead of the fixture.

Although a result would be a welcome surprise for Kenya, the more important factor is the performance. A test against a top-10 ranked African nation is the perfect way for established players like Abud Omar, Mike Kibwage, and others to gear up for their first AFCON since 2019.

This will be just the third time Kenya will play in the competition in the 21st century. Getting minutes into the tank against high-quality opposition is the best way for players to realise what will be expected of them when the real matches begin. 

A chance to test new tactics and give young players a chance

The South Africa game won’t just be about ensuring established international stars are ready when Kenya’s first AFCON match kicks off in June. It’s also a chance for McCarthy to try a few different things, most importantly tactics that could frustrate bigger teams they might face in the tournament.

Although Kenya enjoyed at least 50% of possession against Eritrea and Guinea, that share will drop substantially against better opposition like South Africa. For example, the team only had 31% of the ball in the 8-0 defeat to Senegal. This gives McCarthy a chance to work on the team’s structure so the Harambee Stars can play more compactly when needed.

It’s also a great opportunity for the manager to see how younger, less experienced players like Stanley Omondi and Micah Obiero fare against teams that will pile on the pressure for 90 minutes. The result might not matter, but fans and backroom staff will want to feel encouraged by what they see as preparations for the tournament ramp up.