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Join on Telegram South Africa will be looking to tighten their grip on Group C when they take on Benin in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan tonight.
Kick-off is at 4 p.m. Moroccan time (GMT), and fans can catch the action live on SuperSport.
Sitting pretty at the top of the table with 10 points, Hugo Broos’ men know that a win will keep them ahead of the chasing pack, while a slip-up could level competition for a straight qualification. Rwanda, Nigeria, and Benin are all breathing down their necks, making this fixture a potential decider in the race for an automatic World Cup spot.
South Africa’s unbeaten 16-game streak in competitive matches will be put to the test, but with key absences—playmaker Themba Zwane and centre-back Mothobi Mvala both ruled out—Broos will be relying on in-form Relebohile Mofokeng and a solid defensive line featuring Nkosinathi Sibisi, Siyabonga Ngezana, and Grant Kekana.
Benin’s Cheetahs have been solid throughout the qualifiers, losing only once—to Bafana in Durban in 2023. They sit just two points behind the South Africans and know that victory would see them leapfrog into first position.
Coach Gernot Rohr has his full squad available and will be counting on captain Steve Mounié, who has already found the net three times in this campaign, along with the dangerous Mohamed Tijani and playmaker Dodo Dokou, who impressed in Benin’s 2-2 draw against Zimbabwe last week.
Predicted Line-ups:
Benin: Dandjinou; Kiki, Roche, Tijani, Ouorou; D’Almeida, Hassane, Olaitan; Dokou, Mounié, Hountondji.
South Africa: Williams; Mvala, Kekana, Ngezana; Morena, Mokoena, Adams, Mofokeng; Tau, Foster, Mayambela.
Predicted Score:
Bafana Bafana are favorites to get at least a point from today’s game against the Cheetahs. Expect a tight, low-scoring game.
Benin 0-0 South Africa
