Bafana Bafana’s FIFA World Cup qualification permutations

Bafana Bafana could qualify for the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 2010 if they collect all six points from their upcoming back-to-back qualifiers against Lesotho and Nigeria.

However, their campaign is under a cloud of uncertainty due to a potential 3-point deduction. This follows the fielding of an ineligible player in their 2-1 win over Lesotho in the first leg — a matter currently under FIFA review.

Qualification Scenarios (Pending FIFA Verdict)

If the points deduction does not apply, Hugo Broos’ men can secure a ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup under the following conditions:

Scenario 1:
• South Africa beat both Lesotho and Nigeria
• Rwanda and Benin fail to win both of their remaining fixtures

Scenario 2:
• South Africa draw with Lesotho and beat Nigeria
• Rwanda and Benin fail to win either of their two fixtures

Scenario 3:
• South Africa beat Lesotho and draw with Nigeria
• Rwanda and Benin fail to win either of their two fixtures
• Rwanda draw with Nigeria

Broos confident Bafana Bafana can beat Lesotho

Meanwhile, Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos is confident his team can beat Lesotho on Friday September 5 at Free State Stadium owing to the quality within the team.

“We are still strong enough to beat Lesotho, but again, we have to focus and we have to concentrate,” he told SAFA Media.

“We have to reach our level best, and we have to fight. Playing a good game of football is okay when we can do it, why shouldn’t we do it, but let’s start from the first game, from the first minute and fight for every second, for every square metre on the pitch and try to win that game. It would be a very good situation for us if we could win the game on Friday.”