South Africa tightened their grip on Group C in the CAF 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers after a 2–0 victory over Benin at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan on Tuesday evening.
Second-half goals from Lyle Foster and Jayden Adams secured a crucial win for Hugo Broos’s side, extending their lead at the top to five points with 13 points from six matches. The result keeps Bafana Bafana firmly on course for a return to the World Cup, though a possible disciplinary ruling could alter the standings following reports that Teboho Mokoena was fielded while ineligible in their previous match against Lesotho.
The opening 45 minutes proved frustrating for both teams. South Africa controlled possession but lacked sharpness in the final third. Lyle Foster and Thalente Mbatha both threatened early, while Junior Olaitan forced Ronwen Williams into an important save with a diving header at the other end.
The breakthrough arrived eight minutes into the second half. Fawaaz Basadien burst forward down the left and squared the ball across goal for Foster, whose low effort squeezed under goalkeeper Marcel Dandjinou and rolled into the net off the far post.
Broos introduced Oswin Appollis and Jayden Adams as fresh legs to maintain attacking pressure, and the substitutes combined to seal the win late on. In the 84th minute, Appollis delivered a pinpoint free kick into the area, where Adams rose to head home past Dandjinou for 2–0.
Benin struggled to mount a response, with long-range attempts from Sessi D’Almeida and Steve Mounie failing to trouble Williams.
With this result, South Africa sit clear on 13 points, followed by Rwanda and Benin (8 each), Nigeria (7), Lesotho (6), and Zimbabwe (4). The qualifiers resume in September when South Africa face Lesotho away before hosting Nigeria in a potentially decisive encounter.
Final score:
Benin 0
South Africa 2 (Foster 53’, Adams 84’)
Benin XI: Marcel Dandjinou, Rachid Ouorou, Roche (Kiki 74’), Imourane, Steve Mounie (Fiogbe 86’), Moumini (Agounon 85’), Tijani, Sessi D’Almeida (Traore 75’), Hountondji (Dossou 46’), Junior Olaitan, Dodo.
South Africa XI: Ronwen Williams, Khuliso Mudau, Siyabonga Ngezana, Nkosinathi Sibisi, Fawaaz Basadien, Sphephelo Aubaas, Thalente Mbatha, Thapelo Morena, Relebohile Mofokeng (Oswin Appollis 68’), Percy Tau (Jayden Adams 76’), Lyle Foster (Iqraam Rayners 90’).