South Africa defeated Eritrea 5-0 in their 2027 AFCON qualifying match
South Africa defeated Eritrea 5-0 in their 2027 AFCON qualifying match at the Al Salam Stadium in Cairo on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, as Bafana Bafana produced a commanding performance to secure their second consecutive victory in Group D.
Relebohile Mofokeng was the standout performer, scoring twice as South Africa took control of the match. Yaya Sithole, Iqraam Rayners and Luther Singh also found the net to complete a convincing five-goal victory.
The result gives South Africa six points from their opening two AFCON qualifiers, following their 2-1 victory over Guinea in their opening Group D fixture.
South Africa dominate Eritrea in Cairo
South Africa entered the match looking to build on their positive start under coach Pitso Mosimane.
After defeating Guinea 2-1 in their opening qualifying match, Bafana Bafana carried that momentum into their encounter with Eritrea.
The match was played at the Al Salam Stadium in Cairo, Egypt, with Eritrea officially the home side despite the fixture taking place outside Eritrea.
South Africa controlled large periods of the game and showed greater attacking quality in the final third.
The visitors eventually opened the scoring through Relebohile Mofokeng, who made his impact felt with a composed finish.
The goal gave Bafana Bafana the platform to take control of the contest and put Eritrea under increasing pressure.
Relebohile Mofokeng scores twice
Relebohile Mofokeng was central to South Africa’s attacking performance.
The young attacker scored twice, producing a standout display as Bafana Bafana moved to six points in Group D.
Mofokeng’s first goal came during the opening half, giving South Africa the advantage before he struck again shortly before half-time.
His brace provided South Africa with a comfortable lead and demonstrated the attacking threat he posed throughout the match.
The performance also marked an important contribution from Mofokeng during the early stages of the AFCON qualifiers.
His ability to find space and finish chances helped South Africa establish a strong advantage before the second half.
Mofokeng’s performance was highlighted by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), which reported that he scored twice in South Africa’s 5-0 victory.
Eritrea struggle against South Africa
Eritrea found it difficult to contain South Africa’s attacking players as the match progressed.
The hosts attempted to remain competitive but struggled to create enough opportunities to threaten the Bafana Bafana defence.
South Africa’s defensive organisation allowed the team to maintain its advantage while continuing to look for further goals.
With the visitors already two goals ahead by the interval, Eritrea faced a difficult second half.
South Africa did not slow down after the break and continued to attack with purpose.
The result eventually developed into a comprehensive victory as the visitors added three more goals.
AFCON qualifiers see South Africa add more goals
The second half brought even more goals for South Africa.
Yaya Sithole added another goal shortly after the restart, extending Bafana Bafana’s lead.
The third goal further reduced Eritrea’s chances of mounting a comeback and allowed South Africa to play with greater confidence.
Iqraam Rayners then added his name to the scoresheet, putting South Africa four goals ahead.
Rayners’ contribution added to an increasingly dominant display from Mosimane’s team.
With Eritrea unable to respond, South Africa continued to control the match and created opportunities as the game entered its closing stages.
Luther Singh completed the scoring deep into stoppage time, making it 5-0 and confirming a five-star performance from the South Africans.
Pitso Mosimane’s side maintain perfect start
The victory represents another important result for Pitso Mosimane since his return to the Bafana Bafana coaching position.
Mosimane began his latest campaign with a 2-1 victory over Guinea before overseeing the 5-0 victory against Eritrea.
That means South Africa have won both of their opening AFCON qualifiers, collecting six points and scoring seven goals across the two matches.
The team’s defensive record has also been strong, with South Africa conceding only once in their opening two fixtures.
Mosimane’s return to the national team has therefore started with two victories, while the squad continues its pursuit of qualification for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
The coach had previously named Relebohile Mofokeng among the players expected to play an important role in his plans for the national team.
Relebohile Mofokeng makes his mark
For Relebohile Mofokeng, the match provided an opportunity to make a significant contribution to the national team.
His two goals against Eritrea gave him a major role in South Africa’s latest victory and helped the team build an unassailable lead.
Mofokeng’s performance also adds another positive development to South Africa’s attacking options.
The 21-year-old has emerged as one of the younger players attracting attention around the national team, and his brace will increase the focus on his performances during the remainder of the qualifying campaign.
CAF’s match report described Mofokeng as the star of the contest after his two goals helped South Africa claim six points from their opening two qualifying matches.
South Africa strengthen Group D position
The 5-0 result is significant for South Africa because goal difference can become important during a qualifying campaign.
Bafana Bafana now have seven goals from two matches, following their 2-1 victory over Guinea and the 5-0 win over Eritrea.
South Africa’s next fixtures will provide further tests as the AFCON qualifiers continue.
Kenya and Guinea are also part of Group D, meaning the race for qualification will continue across the remaining matches.
South Africa’s strong start gives them an early points advantage, but the team will still need to maintain its performances throughout the campaign.
The opening two matches have produced victories against Guinea and Eritrea, giving Mosimane’s side an encouraging foundation for the rest of the qualifying schedule.
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Eritrea 0-5 South Africa match details
The final scoreline was Eritrea 0-5 South Africa, with the goals coming from Relebohile Mofokeng, Yaya Sithole, Iqraam Rayners and Luther Singh.
Mofokeng scored twice, while Sithole, Rayners and Singh each scored once.
The match took place on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at the Al Salam Stadium in Cairo.
Match summary
- Competition: 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers
- Group: Group D
- Venue: Al Salam Stadium, Cairo, Egypt
- Final score: Eritrea 0-5 South Africa
- South Africa goals: Relebohile Mofokeng (2), Yaya Sithole, Iqraam Rayners, Luther Singh
- South Africa coach: Pitso Mosimane
- Key performer: Relebohile Mofokeng
- Points from two matches: Six
The result confirms that South Africa defeated Eritrea 5-0 in their 2027 AFCON qualifying match, giving Bafana Bafana another three points and maintaining their winning start to the Group D campaign.
With the AFCON qualifiers continuing, South Africa will now turn their attention to the remaining fixtures as they pursue a place at the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
Mainstream media references
- The Star — Relebohile Mofokeng shines with a brace as Pitso Mosimane’s Bafana put five past Eritrea
Reports on South Africa’s 5-0 victory, Mofokeng’s two goals and Pitso Mosimane’s winning start.
Read The Star match report - IOL / Independent Media — South Africa football coverage
Independent Media provides South African sports and football reporting, including Bafana Bafana coverage.
Visit IOL Sports - EWN — Bafana Bafana and Pitso Mosimane coverage
EWN reported on Mosimane’s preparations for the Eritrea fixture and South Africa’s AFCON qualifying campaign.
Read EWN’s Bafana Bafana coverage - GOAL South Africa — Eritrea 0-5 Bafana Bafana
GOAL reported on the 5-0 victory, including Mofokeng’s brace and South Africa’s six points from their opening two qualifiers.
Read the GOAL South Africa report
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