South Africa built a 2-0 halftime lead over Eritrea on Wednesday in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, with midfielder Relebohile Mofokeng scoring both goals at the Al Salam Stadium in Cairo, Egypt. The Group D clash kicked off in the early afternoon local time, with the second half underway as this report was filed.
Mofokeng Breaks Through Early
Mofokeng had already rattled the crossbar with a long-range effort before he found his breakthrough. Mofokeng had started the contest quite lively after hitting the upright with a strike from distance, but he got his reward on 18 minutes after latching onto a pass from Oswin Appollis before calmly slotting into the bottom corner.
South Africa coach Pitso Mosimane also had to shuffle his lineup early. His plans were disrupted after just 12 minutes when Aubaas picked up a knock and was unable to continue, with Durban City midfielder Brooklyn Poggenpoel coming on as his replacement for his competitive debut.
A Second Before the Break
Eritrea pushed for a response but could not find the breakthrough before the interval. Eritrea were by no means a pushover in the first half, showing glimpses of their capabilities on the counter-attack, though they did not do enough to trouble the Bafana defenders, and South Africa added a second goal on the stroke of halftime as Mofokeng completed his brace with a lovely run into the box before firing into the far corner.
The double marked a personal milestone for the 21-year-old attacker. Mofokeng scored his first official goal for Bafana Bafana on Wednesday evening against Eritrea, and by the interval Bafana Bafana found themselves leading Eritrea 2-0 at halftime of their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
Second Half Underway in Cairo
Eritrea came out looking to claw back into the contest after the restart. Early in the second period, the South African side began threatening the goal again, with Ime Okon attempting a header from the center of the box following a corner kick, though the effort missed the target.
What's at Stake in Group D
South Africa arrived in Egypt already sitting on top of the standings. The results from the opening round left South Africa at the top of Group D with three points, followed by Kenya and Eritrea with one each, while Guinea were yet to get off the mark. That gap opened after Eritrea drew 1-1 with Kenya in the other Saturday Group D qualifier, allowing South Africa to pick up a two-point lead at the top of the table.
The group carries unusual stakes because the East African co-hosts are already assured of their place. Kenya will be one of the two from Group D regardless of their final position, meaning there is only one spot on offer between South Africa, Guinea and Eritrea. That makes every point in Cairo significant for both sides, similar to the stakes surrounding the Ghana vs. Gambia qualifier elsewhere in the competition.
The fixture itself could not be staged on Eritrean soil. The match is taking place on neutral ground in Egypt due to hosts Eritrea lacking a CAF-compliant venue. Eritrea's presence in this qualifying cycle is notable in itself: the Red Sea nation only returned to AFCON qualifying this year after an extended absence from the competition, and its run has already been shadowed by off-field turmoil involving players from its squad earlier in the year.
What Comes Next
Mosimane, in the early stages of his second spell in charge of Bafana Bafana, took over with a win in the opener and is now looking to extend that run on the road. Bafana took the first step towards the group's lone available berth in what was the first game of Mosimane's second stint in charge of the national team, and away from home in Cairo they sought to consolidate that position.
Regardless of how the second half in Cairo unfolds, South Africa's travel plans are already set. South Africa will remain in Cairo after the match to take on Egypt in a friendly on Oct. 4. Eritrea, meanwhile, will look to regroup before their remaining Group D fixtures as they continue their push for a first Africa Cup of Nations appearance in nearly two decades.