Bafana Bafana has qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. South Africa put on a show at Mbombela Stadium in Mpumalanga on Tuesday, 14 October 2025, when they thrashed Rwanda 3-0 in a crucial World Cup Qualifier.
After the impressive victory, Bafana Bafana topped Group C with 18 points. Nigerians, who also hoped to qualify for the 2026 spectacle, did South Africa a huge favour by beating Benin 4-0 on the same day.
Coming into this match, Benin were topping the group with 17 points. They only needed a draw against Nigeria, but the Super Eagles outclassed them in Group C’s decider.
South Africa scored the third goal in the 72nd minute through the head of Evidence Makgopa, who connected with a corner from Oswin Appollis.
Bafana missed a double chance in the 66th minute when Fiacre Ntwari saved Sipho Mbule’s shot, and the rebound fell kindly for Khuliso Mudau, who sent his shot a whisker away from the target.
Appollis nearly scored another goal for South Africa when he dribbled past a couple of opponents from the midfield, passed it to Aubrey Modiba on the left, but miskicked his shot when Modiba found him inside the box.
Bafana Bafana 2-0 Rwanda at Half Time
The hosts took the lead in the 5th minute when Thalente Mbatha’s powerful long-range strike beat Ntwari. South Africa could have doubled the lead in the 12th minute when Oswin Appollis found himself one-on-one with the keeper, but Ntwari pulled off a great save.
Appollis finally got it right in the 26th minute when his curling shot went into the top right corner. Bafana Bafana supporters went into a frenzy when his shot kissed the inside of the net.
South Africa Latest Results
In their previous World Cup Qualifier, South Africa played a goalless draw with Zimbabwe on 10 October 2025. The South Africans created a few goalscoring opportunities in the crucial match, but Zimbabwe held on until the end of 90.
Broos’ charges dropped two crucial points in the Zimbabwe match. They were expected to secure all three points, but ended up getting just one after Zimbabwe’s stubborn defending.
Before that, South Africa drew 1-1 with Nigeria in another World Cup Qualifier on 9 September 2025. William Troost-Ekong gifted Bafana the lead in the 25th minute when he scored in his own net.
Calvin Bassey scored a controversial goal in the 44th minute. Bassey’s equaliser ensured that Nigeria secured a vital point in their World Cup Qualifying campaign. Bafana again failed to get maximum points at home.
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Rwanda Latest Results
On 10 October 2025, Rwanda lost 1-0 to Benin in a World Cup Qualifier. Benin topped Group C with 17 points after their narrow victory against Rwanda. Benin’s Aiyegun Tosin scored the winning goal in the 80th minute.
Rwanda edged Zimbabwe 1-0 in another World Cup Qualifier on 9 September 2025. Gilbert Mugisha found the back of the net in the 40th minute. Rwanda had six shots on target, but Zimbabwe’s goalkeeper Washington Arubi pulled off five saves in the game.
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South Africa vs Rwanda: Head-to-Head
South Africa and Rwanda last met in 2023. Rwanda beat South Africa 2-0 in a World Cup Qualifier at Huye Stadium on 21 November 2023. The hosts scored both their goals in the first half of the clash.
Innocent Nshuti opened the scoring in the 12th minute, and Mugisha doubled the score in the 28th minute. Rwanda secured all three points in the match. At the time, they still had hopes of qualifying for the 2026 tournament.
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For a live score of any Bafana Bafana fixture and a detailed match timeline, including scorers, cards, and substitutions, visit our live scores page.
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