2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers: Saturday's schedule

Group D will take centre stage on Saturday, with Kenya facing Eritrea before South Africa take on Guinea to conclude the first round of qualifying.

The first round of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers concludes this Saturday, 26 September, with just two matches on the schedule. The four teams in Group D will finally enter the competition after matches were played on Thursday and Friday in the other 11 groups.

The first fixture will see Kenya face Eritrea in Nairobi, before the clash between South Africa and Guinea. Two important matches in a group with a particular format, as Kenya have already qualified for the finals as a co-host nation.

Kenya-Eritrea at 13:00 GMT

Kenya will begin their campaign against Eritrea at Nairobi's Nyayo National Stadium. Kick-off is scheduled for 13:00 GMT. Benni McCarthy's Harambee Stars will use these qualifiers in particular to prepare for the finals, which they will host alongside Uganda and Tanzania.

Eritrea, meanwhile, return to the group stage after eliminating Eswatini in the preliminary round. The Eritrean national team will look to cause a surprise against an opponent already assured of a place at the Africa Cup of Nations.

South Africa-Guinea at 16:00 GMT

The day's main fixture will kick off at 16:00 GMT between South Africa and Guinea. The Bafana Bafana are beginning a new cycle under Pitso Mosimane, while Paulo Duarte's Syli National will look to pick up points immediately in the race for the only remaining spot available to the non-host teams in this group.

The two teams already know each other well. Guinea have a slight advantage in the head-to-head record, with two wins in six matches, compared with one South African victory and three draws.

Full schedule for Saturday in GMT

13:00 GMT: Kenya - Eritrea

16:00 GMT: South Africa - Guinea

Read also: 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers: all of Friday's results and goalscorers

Mahdi Zakaria LAZRI |

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