South Africa thrashed Rwanda 3-0 in their FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier at the Mbombela Stadium on Tuesday night to book their ticket to next year’s global showpiece.
The result saw Bafana Bafana qualify for the tournament in Canada, Mexico and the USA as Group C winners.
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Post-match, 73-year-old Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos dropped a bombshell, confirming that he will retire after next year’s tournament.
AFCON 2025
South Africa will now play international friendly matches as they prepare for December’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
Amavubi, on the other hand, ended a disappointing qualifying campaign with a defeat and they finished fifth in the group standings.
The East African side also failed to qualify for the 2025 AFCON and they are likely to play friendly matches in the next FIFA break.
Fast start
Bafana Bafana got off to a brilliant start with Oswin Appollis causing havoc for the Amavubi defence.
The winger set up Thalente Mbatha, who netted with a powerful shot from outside the box to hand South Africa a 1-0 lead five minutes into the match.
The hosts doubled their lead four minutes before the half-hour mark after a good team move.
Appollis grabbed a well-deserved goal after being set up by his Orlando Pirates team-mate Evidence Makgopa and South Africa were 2-0 up at the interval.
Hugo Broos’s side did not take their foot off the pedal after the restart as they continued to launch attacks and they extended their lead in the 72nd minute.
Appollis grabbed his second assist of the game as his corner-kick was headed home by Evidence Makgopa, who sealed South Africa’s 3-0 win.
TEAMS
South Africa
Williams; Mudau, Ndamane, Sibisi, Modiba; Mokoena, Mbatha (Shabalala 89′), Mbule (Aubaas 89′); Appollis, Morena (Nkota 35′), Makgopa (Cupido 85′)
Rwanda
Ntwari; Mutsinzi, Byiringiro, Manzi, Niyomugabo (Hamon 68′); Bizimana (Nkulikiyimana 85′), B. Mugisha, Muhire, Kwizera (Imanishimwe 52′), G. Mugisha, Nshuti (Biramahire 68′)
