South Africa kicked off their Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualification with a commanding 5-0 victory over Eritrea. Relebohile Mofokeng scored twice in the first half to set the tone for a dominant performance away from home.
Pitso Mosimane's side took control early. Oswin Appollis provided the assist for Mofokeng's opener in the 19th minute, and the young forward doubled his tally just before half-time, finishing from Samukele Kabini's pass. The second half saw the goals continue. Sphephelo Sithole made it three seven minutes after the restart, before Iqraam Rayners added a fourth on 63 minutes, again assisted by Appollis. Substitute Luther Singh completed the rout with a goal in the fourth minute of added time.
South Africa dictated play with 64% possession and created 22 shots, nine of which were on target. The only blemish was a first-half yellow card for defender Olwethu Makhanya. The win provides a perfect start to the AFCON qualifying campaign, following a 2-1 victory over Guinea in their opening match. The team now has six points from two games, a strong position in the early standings.
Mosimane's view
Head coach Pitso Mosimane highlighted the importance of the result. "South Africa began their Africa Cup of Nations, Qualification campaign with a vital 2-1 victory over Guinea, earning three points," he said, referencing the earlier win that set the stage for this performance. He praised the squad's depth, noting that contributions across the squad were key to the comprehensive result.
The result is a welcome boost ahead of a busy period. South Africa's recent form in World Cup qualifying has been mixed, with one win, two draws and two losses in their last five games, leaving them second in their group with four points. They face a quick turnaround, with a key World Cup qualifier away to Egypt on 4 October. The comprehensive win in Asmara will build confidence as they prepare for that significant test, though they will monitor their injuries report closely in the build-up.
