South Africa have booked their place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a commanding 3–0 victory over Rwanda in Mbombela last night.

Goals from Thalente Mbatha, Oswin Appollis, and Evidence Makgopa secured the win that saw Bafana Bafana leapfrog Benin at the top of the standings. Their qualification was confirmed after Nigeria crushed Benin 4–0 in a simultaneous fixture, courtesy of a Victor Osimhen hat-trick and Frank Onyeka’s late strike.

The results mean South Africa top their group in the African qualifiers, with Nigeria runners-up. Group winners qualify automatically for the World Cup.

The result marked South Africa’s first World Cup qualification since 2010, when the nation hosted the tournament. It also closed a turbulent campaign that included a FIFA sanction earlier this year for fielding an ineligible player, a penalty that had cost Bafana Bafana three points and put their qualification hopes in jeopardy. Last night’s victory restored national pride and vindicated coach Hugo Broos’s faith in a young squad that responded under pressure.

Elsewhere across the continent, Gambia delivered the biggest scoreline of the day with a 7–0 demolition of Seychelles, while Guinea were held 2–2 by Botswana and Mozambique edged Somalia 1–0.

For South Africa, the win signals a resurgence under Broos and the chance to represent Africa at the expanded 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, after years of near-misses and disappointment.

The other African teams that have qualified are Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, and Cape Verde. Cape Verde will be making its first-ever World Cup appearance.