Bafana Bafana got their 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers off to a good start when they defeated Benin 2-1 at the Moses Mabhida Stadium yesterday.
The South Africans climbed to the summit of Group C after other nations in the group drew their matches midweek.
SA got three points, with the rest, besides Benin, all registering a single point. Other teams in Group C are Nigeria, Lesotho and Zimbabwe. Nigeria, who are the biggest threat to Bafana in the group, were held at home by minnows Lesotho and this was a big boost for Bafana. Rwanda, whom Bafana will face on Tuesday, also played to a 0-0 draw against Zimbabwe during the week.
Buoyed by the big opportunity to lead the group, coach Hugo Broos’ charges started strongly and before the vociferous crowd had even cleared their
voices, Percy Tau had opened the scoring in the first minute.
Tau latched onto a defence-splitting pass from Teboho Mokoena and chipped the ball into the net.
But the South Africans let the grip off the whip and instead of going for the throat, they allowed Benin back into the game. The Cheetahs created anxious moments for the Bafana defence, but they were not clinical in front of goals.
South Africa know the importance of goal difference – they were knocked out in the last World Cup qualifiers in heartbreaking fashion due to the goal difference rule.
Bafana pushed forward and grabbed the second goal via the boot of Khuliso Mudau on the stroke of half-time.
Mudau pounced on poor goalkeeping from Kassifa Allagbe and slotted the ball home, much to the relief of Broos.
In the second half, the home team kept possession but could not penetrate the visitors’ back four. Against the run of play, the Cheetahs launched a rare counterattack and caught
Bafana napping when Steve Mounie made it 2-1.
