It’s been so long since South Africa last appeared at the World Cup, which they hosted in 2010.However, things are about to change as Bafana Bafana are just a few steps away from securing a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.On Tuesday night, they defeated Benin 2-0 on neutral ground in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.Bafana Bafana have destiny in their own hands 🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/I34QO0cnjy— Scrumming Flyhalf (@scrumming_ten) March 25, 2025 Lyle Foster and Jayden Adams netted in the second half for a massive win, their third in a row, thus going five points clear of the runners-up, Rwanda and Benin, and six points above dreadful Nigeria.With just four games to go, Bafana Bafana are on the verge of qualifying directly for the upcoming World Cup.World Cup remains a hollow dream?! Nigeria stunned by minnows in added time!After a shaky start to these qualifiers, they defeated Zimbabwe, Lesotho and now Benin to make a serious statement.After a visit to Lesotho, which is scheduled for September 1, they await Nigeria at home four days later in what will be the decisive game of the entire campaign.The best ever Bafana Bafana coach alive🫡🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/GBlopPlv5t— Ka_Lindamkhonto (@Ka_Lindamkhonto) March 25, 2025 As things stand, with a victory at Lesotho, even a draw against the Super Eagles will be enough for them to book their WC ticket.Bafana Bafana made WC appearances in 1998, 2002 and 2010.2026 WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS – AFRICASaturday Togo – Mauritania 2-2 (1-0)/Klidje 4, Denkey 69 – Koita 52, Mahmoud 55/Sudan – Senegal 0-0Sunday Eswatini – Mauritius 3-3 (2-0)/Mkhontfo 13, 18, Mabuza 75 – Rose 47, Aristide 50, Vincent 90+1/Kenya – Gabon 1-2 (0-1)/Olunga 62 – Aubameyang 16, 52 pen/Monday Namibia – Equatorial Guinea 1-1 (0-0)/Shalulile 51 – Coco 54/Central African Republic – Mali 0-0Guinea B. – Burkina Faso 1-2 (1-1)/Banjaqui 36 – Traore L. 6, 73/Liberia – Sao Tome 2-1 (2-1)/Andrews 4, Farkarlun 32 – Do Sacramento 44/Ivory Coast – Gambia 1-0 (1-0)/Haller 15/Madagascar – Ghana 0-3 (0-1)/Partey 11, 54, Kudus 59/Ethiopia – Djibouti 6-1 (3-0)/Desta 19, 52, 70 pen, Nasir 34, 37, 58 pen – Akinbinu 51/Tunisia – Malawi 2-0 (0-0)/Jaziri 86, Achouri 90+2/TuesdayAngola – Cape Verde 1-2 (0-1)/Gelson Dala 50 – Rocha Livramento 45+2, 63/Benin – S.Africa 0-2 (0-0)/Foster 53, Adams 84/Nigeria – Zimbabwe 1-1 (0-0)/Osimhen 74 – Chirewa 90+1/Rwanda – Lesotho 1-1 (0-0)/Kwizera 58 – Fothoane 82/Uganda – Guinea 1-0 (1-0)/Okello 36/Botswana – Somalia IN PROGRESSBurundi – Seychelles IN PROGRESSCameroon – Libya IN PROGRESSEgypt – Sierra Leone IN PROGRESSSudan – South Sudan IN PROGRESS00:00: (1.38) Algeria (4.40) Mozambique (10.0)00:00: (1.17) Comores (7.50) Chad (16.0)00:00: (3.20) Mauritania (2.80) Dr Congo (2.60)00:00: (1.30) Senegal (5.20) Togo (11.0)00:30: (1.12) Morocco (9.50) Tanzania (19.0)***odds are subject to changes***
