Bafana Bafana has ended a long, anxious wait for South African football fans, officially securing their place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The historic qualification was achieved through a commanding 3-0 victory over Rwanda at the Mbombela Stadium on Tuesday evening, perfectly complemented by a favorable result in the simultaneous Group C fixture: Nigeria overcame the group leaders, Benin, with a decisive 4-0 win.
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Speaking after the momentous victory, talismanic midfielder Themba Zwane, who was sidelined from the action due to injury, hailed the achievement and the emotional impact it will have on the country.
“It’s happiness overall. It’s always good to see the country so happy,” Zwane told SuperSport. “The boys did their job very well and we are so happy as a country.”
Zwane’s message focused on the renewed national spirit fostered by the team’s success: “The message to South Africans is that the guys are doing well, obviously we want to see them happy, and we will do our best as a team and make sure that we make them happy all the time.”
Victory Sealed with Dominance
Needing a win and help from Nigeria, the national team delivered a dominant performance, clearly desperate to make amends for the disappointing goalless draw with Zimbabwe just days earlier. The goals came from Orlando Pirates trio Thalente Mbatha, Oswin Appollis and Evidence Makgopa.
The emphatic result ensured South Africa finished the qualification campaign on a high, earning their first spot at a World Cup finals since they appeared as hosts in 2010.
By finishing in first place with 18 points, South Africa secured the automatic qualification slot, narrowly beating out Nigeria and Benin, who both ended on 17 points.