South Africa embarked on their journey to the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a crucial match against Benin at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday, November 18.
The significance of this encounter is heightened for both teams as they aim to kickstart the qualification round on a positive note.
Under the new era led by coach Hugo Broos, Bafana Bafana displayed a promising start. Having already secured a spot in next year's African Cup of Nations tournament in Ivory Coast, their next objective is to make a successful return to the World Cup finals, a feat not accomplished since 2010 on home soil. Broos has expressed his intentions to restore South Africa to its former footballing glory.
A notable aspect of Broos's approach is the blend of youth and experience within the team. Despite initial dissatisfaction from fans regarding his selections, Bafana has shown glimpses of potential.
Noteworthy achievements include victories over Morocco during AFCON qualifications and holding Ivory Coast to a 1-1 draw away from home. These results provide a morale boost as they face the relatively unknown Benin, a nation with limited history in the World Cup finals.
However, Bafana faces challenges due to the absence of key players such as Lyle Foster, Grant Kekana, and Thapelo Maseko, who were initially called up but later dropped for various reasons. Despite this setback, the team possesses depth in the lineup, requiring them to dig deep for positive results.
Benin, under the guidance of Gernot Rohr, has shown improvement since his appointment. Rohr, known for his coaching skills and previous success with Nigeria, now aims to guide Benin to their first-ever World Cup qualification.
The squad predominantly consists of players based in France, given the absence of a professional football league in Benin.
Notable contributors include Steve Mounie, a striker from Brest in French Ligue 1, and Jodel Jossou, who plies his trade in France for the Souchax outfit.
KICKOFF TIME
The match is scheduled to kick-off at 13:00 GMT (1:00PM)
PREDICTION
South Africa 2-1 Benin
