Mbombela – The South African national football team, Bafana Bafana, has clinched its berth in the FIFA 2026 World Cup after a commanding 3-0 victory over Rwanda.
Thalente Mbatha kickstarted the scoring for Bafana with a brilliant strike from outside the penalty area in the 8th minute.
Fiacre Ntwali, Rwanda’s goalkeeper and a player for Kaizer Chiefs, inadvertently punched the ball into his own goal.
This early goal settled Bafana’s nerves, especially as the crowd learned that Nigeria had also scored against Benin, who had been leading Group C prior to today’s matches.
With only one team advancing from Group C, Nigeria’s win over Benin became advantageous for Bafana.
Cheers erupted in the stadium as Victor Osimhen netted his second goal for Nigeria.
The sole drawback for Bafana was the injury to Thapelo Morena in the 30th minute, which resulted in Mohau Nkota coming on as his replacement in the 36th minute.
Dominating possession with over 60 percent, Bafana extended their lead before halftime when Oswin Reagan Appollis scored against Fiacre Ntwali.
The second half began in much the same manner, with Bafana showcasing their control.
Appollis continued to be a consistent threat, though he wasn’t able to score again.
In a quiet stretch at Mbombela Stadium, more exciting news arrived: Osimhen had completed a hat-trick for Nigeria, effectively knocking Benin out of contention for the tournament.
With fans cheering for Bafana, more excitement followed.
Evidence Makgopa rounded off the scoring with a perfectly executed header from a corner kick in the 71st minute, bringing the score to 3-0.
From that moment on, Bafana had a clear path to secure their spot in the FIFA 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the USA.
