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South Africa earned a place at the 2026 World Cup after defeating Rwanda 3-0 in Mbombela on Tuesday, clinching the top spot in Group C. Thalente Mbatha and Oswin Appollis struck in the first half, before Evidence Makgopa sealed the victory midway through the second period.
The win gave South Africa 18 points, edging Nigeria, who defeated Benin 4-0 with a hat-trick from Victor Osimhen. Despite the loss, Nigeria remains in contention for the World Cup as one of the four best African runners-up, who will compete in a play-off tournament in Morocco this November. Winners from that stage advance to the intercontinental play-offs in March, with two World Cup spots available.
This will mark South Africa’s fourth appearance at football’s global showpiece, having qualified in 1998, 2002, and automatically as hosts in 2010. Belgian-born coach Hugo Broos, who represented his country at the 1986 World Cup, hailed the achievement. “We all believed in ourselves. We are going to the World Cup, and it is fantastic,” he said. Broos credited three years of strategic player changes for the triumph and looked forward to the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco in December.
Appollis, who scored and assisted in the match, was named player of the match. He reflected on the team’s resilience: “What an amazing feeling for the group going to the World Cup. I knew we would come here tonight and win.”
South Africa’s path to qualification was not straightforward. A five-point lead with four rounds remaining had slipped to a two-point deficit behind Benin, with dropped points against Nigeria and Zimbabwe, as well as a forfeited win over Lesotho due to fielding an ineligible player. Victory against Rwanda, combined with Nigeria’s win over Benin, proved decisive.
South Africa got off to a dream start with Mbatha scoring within five minutes, followed by Appollis’s strike, giving them control of the first half. Makgopa, drafted in for the injured Iqraam Rayners, headed in a third goal in the 72nd minute. Meanwhile, Osimhen completed a hat-trick for Nigeria in their match against Benin.
With this result, South Africa becomes the seventh African nation confirmed for the expanded 48-team 2026 World Cup, joining Algeria, Cape Verde, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, and Tunisia. Ivory Coast and Senegal can still secure automatic qualification with home wins against Kenya and Mauritania later Tuesday.
