Mbombela – The South African national football team, Bafana Bafana, has qualified for the FIFA 2026 World Cup after a convincing 3- 0 win over Rwanda.
Thalente Mbatha opened the scoring for Bafana with a well-taken shot from outside the penalty area in the 8th minute.
Fiacre Ntwali, in goal for Rwanda, who plays his club football for Kaizer Chiefs, appeared to punch the ball into his own net.
The goal settled the Bafana nerves with news filtering through the stadium that Nigeria had also scored against Benin, who had led Group C before today’s matches.
With only one team going through from Group C, the maths was such that Nigeria defeating Benin was good for Banfana.
More good news filtered through the stadium again – Victor Osimhen had scored his second goal for Nigeria.
The only downside for Bafana was the injury to Thapelo Morena in the 30th minute, which saw him replaced by Mohau Nkota in the 36th minute.
With more than 60 percent of the possession, Bafana went further ahead before the half ended when Oswin Reagan Appollis beat Fiacre Ntwali in goal for Rwanda.
The second half started the same way, with Bafana on the front foot.
Appollis was a constant threat, but could not get his brace.
But with nothing much happening at Mbombela Stadium, news came again that Osimhen had scored a hat-trick for Nigeria, ending the chances that Benin could qualify for the global showpiece.
With fans urging Bafana forward, there was more joy.
Evidence Makgopa made it 3- 0 for Bafana with a fine header from a corner kick in the 71st minute.
From there, the path was clear for Bafana to secure their place at the FIFA 2026 World Cup hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the USA.
