Bafana Bafana of South Africa gave their hopes qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup a huge boost after thrashing Lesotho 3-0 in Friday’s Group C clash in Bloemfontein.
The win means the 1996 AFCON champions are now on 16 points and also temporarily nine points ahead of Nigeria’s Super Eagles.
The Super Eagles can cut the lead back to six points if they beat Rwanda tomorrow (Saturday) in Uyo.
Bafana Bafana took the lead after 15 minutes when Mohau Nkota got at the end of a well-taken cross from Aubrey Modiba in the box to beat Lesotho goalkeeper Sekhoane Moerane.
Shortly before the break, Lesotho were forced into a change when Jane Thabantso was replaced by Katlego Makateng.
In the 63rd minute the South Africans went 2-0 up when Lyle Foster was on hand to tap home after Lesotho keeper failed to handle a shot.
Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Jo Bonfrere Sounds Alarm On Super Eagles’ 2026 World Cup Hopes
Oswin Appollis then made it 3-0 in the 67 minutes when he showed composure in the box to beat the opposition keeper after the Lesotho defence was caught napping.
Meanwhile, in the group’s other fixture Benin Republic edged out Zimbabwe 1-0 to go second on 11 points.
By James Agberebi
15 Comments
Rubbish. These Southern African countries are just helping South Africa. Even Zimbabwe is doing it. Useless people.
Lesotho played like a team that has stepped from the race and in support of south Africa…. Fifa should investigate the match for march fixing.
FIFA should investigate what?because they are the one that says your country should gathered paltry 7 points since the start of the qualifier.Sha be looking for every wuruwuru for your country to make it yeye.
Don’t blame them when you have a dumb NFF president this is what will happen . The worst NFF president
It appears FIFA has finally communicated the points deduction to SA. Just watching the post-match presser of Hugo Broos, and he said, “You know sometimes you have a bad feeling, but you can’t prove it. To be honest, I had that bad feeling in the past few days. I will not go into detail, but again, what happened in the past days is not normal.”
This is a coach that just won a match 3-0, saying he was having a bad feeling, and now it has been proven right cos of what happened in the past days.
It will be so funny that Nigeria won’t be among the best 10 countries to represent Africa at the Mundial. That will be so wild, so unbelievable!
Nothing unbelievable about this. The nation cup that was 16 teams than, we missed the tournament twice . So, na normal thing
The end of the road for the super eagles, see you in 2030, that is if you can qualify sha!
The points and goals will be deducted because Hugo B made no sense by saying they’ll choose the match the player has to miss. That is never done anywhere, if a player is to miss next match and he chooses not to miss the match automatically his team will loose the match and minus 3 goals as well.
FIFA will apply its rules in due time coz we have a solid case, but our players must step up and leave social media for the talking to be done on the pitch as first place or one of the 4 second best teams from play offs. Nigerians must be positive and well educated not to throw in the towel before the end of 16 whole points to play for. NFF too must make a statement and support Rohr!
12 points I mean!
No playoff spot will come from our group if we aim for that.
Only 4 groups will produce playoffs and 5 spots will mathematically exceed our 19 points (if we assume we won all our remaining games).
@Sly not all second teams might reach 19 points, some teams will draw and loose matches to bottom teams. Let’s do our part by winning all possible matches with our so-called big boys, the biggest mistake was to draw to Lesotho in UYO. What a shame but that’s life which comes with ups and downs.
The biggest mistake is to assume defeat before the final match day. This will humble our players Ego and their transfer was also hampered by this lackadaisical team placement. Teams want to sign WC national players in other to get fifa bonus for club players appearing at World Cup. Football has become a serious business from point A to Z.
Rorh?..are you living in the past?
Morocco qualified for the WC with 4 whole game to spare while we are still calculating and praying for point deduction. It’s well.
The current NFF has missed out on two consecutive world cups….
hahahahaha….
When we talk you guys take us for granted, at least the result is clear for all to see….
The erro was made right from day one when Uzoho was in goal when we have Okoye very active in europe…
As if that was not enough, half baked defender like Tanimu was prefered over ex[erienced defenders like Ekong and Omeruo in the 3rd and 4th fixtures….to make it worst, coach politics was brought in and evrything crumbled…..
Now we want FIFA to deducts points and goals from south africa for our lazy overrated players to qualify if they will be able to win their remaining fixtures….
buahahahahahaha….
Where are those EX that were alwasys citicising Gernot ROHR?…..
Give that man nigeria in this jelly fish group, he will qualify with 3 games to spare.
hahahahahaha….
If minos like Benin Rep. are on 11points and second in our group, then we all have to respect master GERNOT ROHR…..
Is it not high time we start preparing for 2030 fifa world cup?…..
bring in players like ELETU, AKINSANMIRO, DAGA, HARCOURT, ERIEHRI and other 19 or 20 years old players to the national team….
Remember, good preparation determines good and productive success….
SEE YOU GUYS IN 2030 WORLD CUP…..
***SHALOM***