Bafana Bafana’s journey to the World Cup: Key stats and highlights

Bafana Bafana will be keeping their fingers crossed that they get a kind 2026 World Cup draw when it is conducted in Washington, DC on Friday.

South Africa will be among the 48 teams taking part in next year’s tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada and make a return as a qualified nation for the first time since 2002, although they played the 2010 edition by virtue of being hosts.

As Bafana Bafana fans look forward to the draw, Afrik-Foot recaps South Africa’s journey to the World Cup.

South Africa were among the nine African nations that qualified directly after winning their group, having topped Group C with by the tightest of margins, after accumulating 18 points, beating both Nigeria and Benin by just one point.  

Bafana Bafana’s shaky start

However, South nearly failed to qualify at the business end of the qualification phase while they got off to a poor start.

The 2026 World Cup qualifiers started in November 2023 and Hugo Broos’ men began with a 2-1 home win over Benin at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban thanks to first-half goals from Percy Tau and Khuliso Mudau.

However, Bafana Bafana would stumble on matchday 2 when they lost 2-0 away to Rwanda in Huye, casting doubts over their World Cup qualification, given the Amavubi were considered one of the underdogs in the group.

AFCON 2023 strengthen SA’s resolve

The qualifiers would give way to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast between January and February 2024 and it is here where South Africa found more confidence.

A surprise run to the semi-final, despite losing the opening game saw Bafana Bafana grow in strength as they went on to finish third and that gave them belief that they could beat anyone as they had silenced Tunisia, Morocco and DR Congo along the way.

When the World Cup qualifiers resumed in June 2024, Broos’ team had built enough resilience and starting with Nigeria in Uyo, they played out a 1-1 draw, Themba Zwane giving them a 29^th minute lead before the Super Eagles levelled in the 46^th minute.

Broos had executed a great gameplan that saw Bafana Bafana stay resolute at the back and stifle Nigeria’s strengths to avoid defeat and they had chances to win it too.

The fourth match would be played at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein a few days later and Broos’ men turned on the style to win 3-1, Iqraam Rayners scoring in the first minute before a Thapelo Morena second-half double sealed the points.

How were AFCON 2025 qualifiers helpful?

The World Cup qualifiers would give way to the 2025 AFCON qualifiers, which took place between September 2024 and November that year and Broos’ men stayed unbeaten to top their group, a run that further strengthened their resolve to seal a ticket to North America.

By this time, South Africa were at the top of their World Cup qualification group with Nigeria, considered favourites, struggling for wins, further boosting their cause.

They resumed their World Cup qualifiers with a 3-0 home win over Lesotho at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane thanks to goals from Relebohile Mofokeng and Jayden Adams, two new players who had been integrated into the squad, in March 2025.

Teboho Mokoena saga begins to rumble

However, that match would later come to bite South Africa as it was when midfielder Teboho Mokoena was fielded when he was supposed to be serving a suspension.

South Africa would face Benin days later and won 2-0, with Lyles Foster and Adams on target, and days later, their transgressions against Lesotho would be discovered although the appeal period had elapsed.

The qualifiers resumed in September 2025 and by this time, the noise around Mokoena’s fielding had become louder with Lesotho issuing several threats while Nigeria, whose campaign was in tatters, joined the chorus.

South Africa would win away to Lesotho 3-0, Mohau Nkota, Lyles Foster and Oswin Appollis on target, before following it with a 1-1 draw at home to Nigeria when they put up a spirited display at Free State Stadium.

FIFA ban arrives to complicate the arithmetic

After the game, there were still complaints about the Teboho Mokoena blunder but many in South Africa thought Bafana Bafana were off the hook only for FIFA to confirm a probe in the matter a few days later before the bad news arrived.

Two weeks later and with South Africa enjoying a three-point lead with two matches to go, FIFA slapped them with a three-point deduction, seeing them tumble from top spot in the group with 17 points to second with 14, same as Benin, and now requiring favours from elsewhere to qualify for the World Cup.

That saw a blame game ensue with some blaming SAFA, coach Hugo Broos, the Bafana Bafana team manager while others singled out Mokoena for playing when he was suspended.

How did South Africa finally qualify?

Heading into the final two matches against Zimbabwe and Rwanda, the job was clear but Bafana Bafana played out a goalless draw with the Warriors, adding onto the tensions heading into the final match.

By now, they had 15 points, Nigeria on 14 while Benin led with 17. All three had a chance of qualifying directly but only Benin had it in their hands.

However, the Squirrels needed to beat the Super Eagles, Nigeria had to win while hoping South Africa drop points against Rwanda to qualify.

South Africa meanwhile were hoping to win while praying Nigeria also triumph and their prayers were answered when they beat Rwanda 3-0 while the Super Eagles thrashed Benin 4-0.

They would secure the direct ticket, a first one since 2002, while Nigeria dropped to the Africa World Cup playoffs, whose final they later lost to DR Congo.