World Cup Qualifiers
By Sello Masilo
South Africa national team coach Hugo Broos has warned his squad ahead of a crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Benin on Tuesday, as chaos looms in other African qualifying groups due to eligibility disputes, team withdrawals, and suspensions.
The 72-year-old Belgian, who guided South Africa to the last 16 at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), told reporters ahead of the Group C clash in Abidjan that “no one is guaranteed a regular starting place,” signalling potential changes to the lineup that defeated Lesotho 2-0 on Friday.
“We are a family of 23, not 11,” Broos emphasised. “Lesotho were the right opponents for them to start, but maybe not Benin,” he said in reference to youngsters Relebohile Mofokeng and Jayden Adams, who both scored in the previous match.
With South Africa leading Group C and Benin close behind in second place, Tuesday’s encounter is pivotal in the race for automatic World Cup qualification.
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Group C Showdown: South Africa vs Benin
Benin have been forced to host the match in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, due to the unavailability of a FIFA-approved stadium at home. Broos acknowledged this could give Bafana Bafana a slight advantage.
“It helps a little,” said the former Belgium international defender. “But our concern remains their physicality. Many of our players are slightly built, and playing away from home against a team like Benin is never easy.”
Bafana Bafana will be looking to Burnley forward Lyle Foster to rediscover his form after a quiet game against Lesotho. Meanwhile, Benin will rely heavily on former Premier League striker Steve Mounié to lead their attacking line.
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Relebohile Mofokeng and Jayden Adams: Rising Stars, But Not Yet Guaranteed Starters
The dazzling performances of Mofokeng and Adams against Lesotho turned heads, but Broos remains cautious about thrusting them into the starting lineup against tougher opposition.
“They’re young and very talented,” said Broos. “But we have to manage them carefully. The demands against Benin will be different. We need experience and tactical discipline.”
Their future with the national team looks bright, but Broos is unlikely to start both in such a high-pressure fixture. Expect one or both to be used off the bench, depending on the match context.
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Equatorial Guinea Appeal: Group H Drama Intensifies
Away from Group C, controversy surrounds Group H, where Equatorial Guinea is challenging FIFA’s earlier ruling that saw two of their 1-0 victories – against Namibia and Liberia – forfeited due to the alleged ineligibility of forward Emilio Nsue.
FIFA claimed Nsue, the 2024 AFCON Golden Boot winner, was ineligible due to being born in Spain. But the Equatorial Guinean Football Federation argues that any individual born to an Equatoguinean parent is automatically a citizen, thus making him eligible.
If the appeal succeeds, Equatorial Guinea could climb from fifth to second in Group H, only behind Tunisia, significantly altering the qualification dynamics.
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Group E in Limbo: Eritrea Withdraws, Congo Suspended
In Group E, the race has been thrown into uncertainty following Eritrea’s withdrawal before the qualifiers began, and the more recent suspension of Congo Brazzaville due to government interference in football affairs.
If Congo is permanently disqualified, the group led by 2022 World Cup semi-finalists Morocco will shrink from six teams to just four. This means each team will only play six matches instead of 10 – a major disadvantage when calculating rankings for runners-up.
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Qualification Format: Why Every Match Matters
Africa’s road to the 2026 World Cup has never been more competitive. Only the nine group winners automatically qualify. The four best-ranked runners-up across all nine groups will enter play-offs for a potential additional spot.
The complications in Groups E and H have prompted debates around fairness, especially if some teams play fewer games. A points-per-game system, similar to what some leagues used during the Covid-19 pandemic, may be adopted to ensure parity.
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Five Matchday Six Fixtures to Watch
AFP Sport has identified five key fixtures for matchday six across the African qualifiers:
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- Benin vs South Africa – Group C
With both teams vying for top spot, the stakes are sky-high. South Africa leads the group but cannot afford to drop points. Benin’s physicality and counter-attacking style may pose problems for Broos’ men.
Prediction: Tight match with minimal margins – a draw could be on the cards.
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- Egypt vs Sierra Leone – Group A
This match serves as a reality check for Sierra Leone’s new coach, Mohamed Kallon, after a strong 3-1 debut win over Guinea-Bissau. But in Cairo, facing Egypt and talisman Mohamed Salah, it’s a different challenge altogether.
Salah was instrumental in Egypt’s recent 2-0 win over Ethiopia, scoring once and assisting another. Sierra Leone will need to be tactically perfect.
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- Cameroon vs Libya – Group D
Cameroon enters the fixture under pressure after a disappointing 0-0 draw with Eswatini. Coach Marc Brys admitted to internal challenges, and the return of Samuel Eto’o to the stands following the end of his FIFA ban adds drama off the pitch.
Libya, inconsistent but unpredictable, could capitalise on Cameroon’s lack of cohesion.
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- Kenya vs Gabon – Group F
Kenya’s coach, former Bafana Bafana striker Benni McCarthy, has openly stated his dream is to “surprise a lot of people by qualifying for the World Cup.”
But Kenya’s hopes are hanging by a thread after a 3-3 draw with Gambia. They must beat Gabon to stay in contention, while also hoping for favours elsewhere.
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- Madagascar vs Ghana – Group I
Corentin Martins, appointed Madagascar coach two months ago, oversaw a thrilling 4-1 win over Central African Republic. A win against Ghana would see them leapfrog the Black Stars into first place.
Ghana, eliminated from AFCON 2025 qualification, are under pressure to redeem themselves. Their 5-0 win over Chad, featuring Antoine Semenyo, shows what they’re capable of when clicking.
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Star Watch: Who to Look Out For
• Mohamed Salah (Egypt) – Continues to carry Egypt with consistency and class.
• Antoine Semenyo (Ghana) – Hit form at the right time with a brace against Chad.
• Lyle Foster (South Africa) – Needs a big performance to justify his selection.
• Steve Mounié (Benin) – Aerially dominant and key to Benin’s attacking approach.
• Emilio Nsue (Equatorial Guinea) – At the centre of a FIFA eligibility storm but remains a lethal forward.
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What Hugo Broos Needs from South Africa
To win against Benin and maintain the group lead, Broos must:
1. Stiffen the midfield – Benin’s physical midfield could overpower the lighter Bafana Bafana centre.
2. Utilise width – South Africa’s pace out wide must be used to stretch Benin’s compact defence.
3. Capitalize on set pieces – South Africa rarely scores from dead-ball situations, a weakness that must be corrected.
4. Discipline and game management – Avoid unnecessary fouls and manage the game tempo.
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Africa’s World Cup Dream and Political Hurdles
Beyond the action on the pitch, the qualifiers are increasingly shaped by political and administrative challenges.
• Congo Brazzaville’s suspension reflects the dangerous line between state interference and football autonomy.
• Equatorial Guinea’s legal fight with FIFA may become a test case for eligibility rules globally.
• Infrastructure challenges, like Benin’s stadium issue, continue to affect the fairness of qualification.
These issues, while off-field, are having significant consequences on the road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
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Final Word: Bafana Bafana on the Brink
South Africa stands on the brink of something special. But it will require consistency, tactical maturity, and a calm head from Hugo Broos’ charges.
With rivals lurking and every point mattering in Africa’s toughest World Cup qualification format yet, there’s little room for error. Tuesday’s match against Benin may just be the defining moment of Bafana Bafana’s campaign.
Kick-off is scheduled for 18:00 CAT in Abidjan.
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