South Africa national soccer team standings are about to start moving. Bafana Bafana open their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign on 26 September 2026, so no group table exists yet. This page tracks the group as soon as results are recorded, and it shows the full schedule in SAST.
After the opening round, South Africa lead the group with three points following a 2-1 win over Guinea. See the match report.
What are the South Africa national soccer team standings?
The standings show where South Africa sit in their AFCON 2027 qualifying group. The table below fills in automatically once the first round of matches has been recorded. Until then, it stays empty, because zero games have been played.
The group table appears here once the first qualifying round is recorded. South Africa play Guinea on 26 September 2026.
Our match data lists Guinea, Eritrea and Kenya as South Africa’s opponents in the group. However, we could not confirm the group draw from a CAF page, so treat the group line-up as unofficial until CAF publishes it.
Who do Bafana Bafana play in the qualifiers?
The opening match is at home against Guinea at Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg on 26 September 2026, with kick-off at 15:00 SAST. Next, Bafana travel to Eritrea, and the South African Football Association lists that game for 30 September at Al-Salam Stadium in Cairo.
After the October friendly, South Africa host Kenya on 11 November and visit Kenya on 15 November, both at 19:00 SAST. The away game at Guinea follows on 24 March 2027. Dates can move, so confirm them on the South African Football Association announcement.
What does the Bafana schedule look like?
The list below shows the next Bafana Bafana games, with dates and kick-off times in SAST. It includes the friendly against Egypt on 4 October 2026, which does not count towards the qualifying table.
| Date | Kick-off (SAST) | Match | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 Sep 2026 | 18:00 | Eritrea v South Africa | Africa Cup of Nations - Qualification |
| 4 Oct 2026 | 20:00 | Egypt v South Africa | Friendlies |
| 11 Nov 2026 | 19:00 | South Africa v Kenya | Africa Cup of Nations - Qualification |
| 15 Nov 2026 | 19:00 | Kenya v South Africa | Africa Cup of Nations - Qualification |
| 24 Mar 2027 | 19:00 | Guinea v South Africa | Africa Cup of Nations - Qualification |
| 28 Mar 2027 | 18:00 | South Africa v Eritrea | Africa Cup of Nations - Qualification |
For results and squad news, see our Bafana Bafana fixtures and results page and the South Africa national soccer team players list.
How do the qualifying standings work?
Teams earn three points for a win and one for a draw. The table ranks them by points first. When teams are level, the tiebreak rules decide, and we have not confirmed those rules for this competition, so check CAF before you rely on a tiebreak.
We also do not state how many teams progress from each group. Instead, follow CAF announcements for the official rule. In short, the safest way to read the table is by points and games played.
Is there a FIFA ranking for the South African team?
Yes, FIFA publishes a men’s world ranking. We do not quote the current position or points here, because we could not read the figure from the FIFA site when we wrote this page. Instead, check the official FIFA world rankings page for the latest.
Who is the Bafana Bafana coach?
According to the South African Football Association, Pitso Mosimane is in charge for the Guinea match after taking over from Hugo Broos. As a result, the qualifiers are his first competitive test in the job.
Looking for the PSL standings instead?
Many people searching for South African standings want the domestic league. In that case, open the live PSL table for the Betway Premiership order, or the PSL results page for the latest scores. Meanwhile, the live scores page covers match days.
When is this page updated?
The table is drawn from a data feed and refreshes every three hours. We check this page after each qualifying window, and last reviewed it on 26 September 2026, before the opening match.
Why do national team standings matter for PSL clubs?
National team windows pull players out of their clubs. Therefore, a busy qualifying schedule affects the PSL fixtures list, because the league often pauses or reshuffles games. In addition, players who travel far, such as the trip to Cairo, may return tired for their next league match.
Similarly, a strong start in qualifying lifts the mood around Bafana Bafana. Consequently, it is worth checking both tables in the same week.
How should you read the qualifying schedule?
Each row shows the date, the kick-off time in SAST, the two teams and the competition. Home teams are named first. Because only qualifiers count towards the group table, look at the competition column before you add up points. Also, remember that away games in Africa can involve long travel, which sometimes changes preparation plans.
Frequently asked questions about South Africa national soccer team standings
Where can I see the South Africa national soccer team standings?
This page shows the AFCON 2027 qualifying group table once the first results are recorded, and it lists the full schedule in SAST.
When does South Africa play next?
Bafana Bafana open against Guinea on 26 September 2026 at 15:00 SAST at Orlando Stadium, then travel to Eritrea on 30 September.
Which group is South Africa in?
Our match data lists Guinea, Eritrea and Kenya as the group opponents, although we could not confirm the draw from a CAF page.
Are friendlies in the standings?
No. Only qualifying matches count towards the group table, so the friendly against Egypt on 4 October does not.
