South Africa vs Benin

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In the first game of Group C's final round in the CAF World Cup qualifiers, South Africa is set to face Benin at Durban's Moses Mabidha Stadium this Saturday afternoon.

Considered a challenging group, South Africa is expected to vie for the top position alongside Nigeria. They have an opportunity to seize an early advantage following two drawn matches in the group.

South Africa heads into this game as the favored team, riding on a streak of five undefeated matches across various competitions, securing two wins and three draws.

Under the leadership of new head coach Hugo Broos, Bafana Bafana earned a spot in the upcoming African Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast. Their immediate focus now shifts to making a strong start in their quest for a place in the World Cup finals, a goal they haven't achieved since 2010.

Positive developments under Broos include blending a youthful team with seasoned players and the coach's willingness to make bold choices in player selection.

During the AFCON qualification, South Africa displayed their capability by defeating Morocco and securing a 1-1 draw against Ivory Coast in an away match last month, showcasing their competitiveness against stronger opponents.

However, a significant concern for South Africa in this upcoming match is the absence of key players, requiring them to once again depend on the depth of their squad to navigate through this crucial initial encounter.

In the meantime, Benin comes into this match as clear underdogs, holding an average record with just one victory in their last five matches across all competitions. They've also had two draws and two losses in this period.

Similar to their opponents, Benin will enter this competition under the guidance of Gernot Rohr, renowned for leading Nigeria to a bronze medal in the 2019 AFCON tournament.

Rohr faces a daunting task as he aims to steer Benin toward their first-ever World Cup qualification. Despite this challenge, he inherits a team with some skilled players, including Steve Mounie, who showcases his talent in Ligue 1 with Brest.

These teams have only clashed once before, during the 2004 AFCON in Tunisia, where South Africa emerged victorious with a 2-0 win.

Several players, namely Lebo Mothiba, Thapelo Maseko, and Grant Kekana, will be absent from the Bafana Bafana squad for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers due to injuries.

Elias Mokwana, Evidence Makgopa, and Thapelo Xoki have been called up to replace the injured trio. Additionally, Burnley forward Lyle Foster has taken a break from football to prioritize his mental well-being.

Jodel Dossou, who scored for Benin in their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier loss against Mozambique in September, is expected to be a crucial player for the national team in this competition, despite facing challenges in his club career.

Former France junior international Cedric Hountondji, who has had brief spells with New York City in MLS and Levski Sofia in Bulgaria, is anticipated to play a role in the central defense alongside Rabiou Sankamao.