South Africa strengthened their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification hopes with a 3–1 victory over Zimbabwe at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein on Tuesday night. The result moved Hugo Broos’s side level on seven points with Rwanda and Benin at the top of Group C.
Substitute Thapelo Morena made the difference with a second-half brace, while Iqraam Rayners and Tawanda Chirewa traded early goals in a frantic opening two minutes.
Bafana Bafana took the lead within 30 seconds after Munashe Garananga’s misplaced pass gifted Rayners possession. The Stellenbosch striker made no mistake, slotting past Geofrey Chitsumba for 1–0.
Zimbabwe responded almost instantly. Tawanda Chirewa broke through on the right and drilled a low finish beyond Ronwen Williams to equalise, stunning the home crowd.
South Africa then dominated possession, creating several chances through Oswin Appollis and Teboho Mokoena, but were denied by strong goalkeeping from Chitsumba. Rayners saw a goal ruled out for offside, while Appollis and Mokoena both went close before halftime.
Broos introduced Thapelo Morena for Elias Mokwana after the break, and the change paid immediate dividends. In the 55th minute, Appollis’s cross was spilled by Chitsumba, and Morena reacted quickest to fire home from close range.
Morena struck again in the 76th minute to seal the win. Mokoena played a perfectly weighted through ball, allowing Morena to round the goalkeeper and tap into an empty net for 3–1.
Despite a few late substitutions, Zimbabwe offered little threat as South Africa comfortably saw out the final minutes to claim back-to-back home wins in the qualifiers.
Final score:
South Africa 3 (Rayners 1’, Morena 55’, 76’)
Zimbabwe 1 (Chirewa 2’)
South Africa XI: Ronwen Williams, Khuliso Mudau, Mothobi Mvala, Siyabonga Ngezana, Aubrey Modiba, Sphephelo Sithole, Teboho Mokoena, Themba Zwane, Oswin Appollis (Relebohile Mofokeng 90+3’), Elias Mokwana (Thapelo Morena 46’), Iqraam Rayners.
Zimbabwe XI: Geofrey Chitsumba, Munashe Garananga, Divine Lunga, Marshall Munetsi, Andy Rinomhota (Tivonge Rushesha 90+1’), Godknows Murwira, Tawanda Chirewa (Tawanda Maswanhise 90+3’), Ralph Hachiro, Gerald Takwara, Walter Musona (Tinashe Machope 90’), Donald Mapfumo (Daniel Msendami 46’).