South Africa take an improving away record into their neutral-site Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Eritrea in Cairo on Wednesday. It is another useful test for Bafana Bafana, who have not lost an away AFCON qualifier since June 2022 and are looking to make it two wins from two under Pitso Mosimane.
The numbers behind South Africa's qualifying record on the road are steady rather than flashy, but they point to a team that has become harder to beat away from home. They have lost only four of their last 16 away qualifiers and are on a four-match unbeaten run in away AFCON qualifying. Since June 2022, that run has included 10 points from a possible 12.
South Africa's away record in context
Across their full AFCON qualifying history, South Africa have played 43 away matches, winning 17, drawing 13 and losing 13. They have scored 53 goals and conceded 48 in those games. More recently, they have won eight, drawn four and lost four of their last 16 away qualifiers, scoring 27 and conceding 18.
That is a marked improvement on the broader picture, where South Africa have lost 30 of their 43 away qualifiers. Even so, the trend has moved in a more positive direction, with the side unbeaten in five consecutive away qualifiers on two separate occasions, from 2000 to 2003 and again from 2016 to 2019.
What the history says
South Africa's away qualifying history has had plenty of swing. Their first-ever away AFCON qualifier ended in a 4-1 loss to Zimbabwe in August 1992, but they then won their first away qualifying match, 3-1 against Mauritius in July 1993. They also suffered one of their heaviest defeats away to Zambia in 1993, losing 3-0.
There have been strong results along the way, too. South Africa beat Nigeria 2-0 away in Uyo in June 2017, and their biggest away qualifying victory came in 2016, when they beat Gambia 4-0. They also recorded a 3-0 away win in 2004 and a 4-1 away win against another opponent in the early years of qualifying.
More recently, South Africa's last away defeat in AFCON qualifying came in June 2022, when they lost 2-1 to Morocco. Since then, their road form has remained solid enough to make this trip to Cairo feel like a meaningful checkpoint rather than a crisis game.
Eritrea offer a different kind of challenge
Eritrea come into the match after drawing 1-1 with Kenya in Nairobi at the weekend, a result that suggests they are becoming more competitive. Their squad has also been shaped by players from the diaspora, which has given the team a different profile in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.
The qualifiers are being played by 48 teams split into 12 groups, with the top two from each group set to advance to the 24-team finals. With one other team in the section also in the mix, every result matters, and South Africa will want to keep their momentum going in a campaign that runs from September 2026 to March 2027.
For South Africa, the assignment in Cairo is simple enough: protect a record that has improved over time and keep the pressure on in the group. For Eritrea, it is a chance to measure themselves against a side that has usually handled away qualifying duty better in recent years.
