South Africa confirm World Cup qualification with comfortable win over Rwanda

South Africa confirm World Cup qualification with comfortable win over Rwanda

Photo: South African Football Association

South Africa confirm World Cup qualification with comfortable win over Rwanda

South Africa will appear at a World Cup finals for the first time since they hosted the 2010 edition following Bafana Bafana’s 3-0 home victory on over Rwanda on Tuesday to win Group C in qualifying from the CAF region.

It was a stress-free day for Bafana Bafana supporters, whose team got off to the start they wanted. Thalente Mbatha’s strike from distance got the hosts off to a dream start in Mbombela and Rwanda showed little promise of threatening to spoil the party.

With news of Nigeria’s strong start against Benin, the only threat to prevent qualification for Bafana Bafana, it was clear that the match was going to end with the mission accomplished.

Oswin Appollis was instrumental in the victory for South Africa, assisting Mbatha before doubling the advantage himself with a well placed finish in the penalty area before the half hour mark.

By halftime the party was in full flight with Nigeria 2-0 ahead. By the time Evidence Makgopa nodded in an Appollis corner kick in the 72nd minute, Nigeria had gone ahead by the same score to eliminate any possibilities of the celebrations being cut short.

South Africa finish as Group C winners by one point, ahead of Nigeria who finished second place over Benin by virtue of goal difference. Nigeria advance to the four-team regional playoff as one of the best four group runners-up.

2026 World Cup Qualifying: Final Group C Table

  1. South Africa- 18 points (qualified)
  2. Nigeria- 17 points (GD: +6) [advances to regional playoff]
  3. Benin- 17 points (GD: +2)
  4. Lesotho- 12 points
  5. Rwanda- 11 points
  6. Zimbabwe- 5 points

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