The final match of gameweek one in Group C of the CAF World Cup qualifiers will see South Africa taking on Benin at the Moses Mabidha Stadium in Durban on Saturday afternoon.
In what many consider the group of death, the hosts are fancied to challenge for the top spot with Nigeria, and they will have a chance to take the early lead after both the other matches in the group ended level.
Match preview
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South Africa enters this fixture as the favourite and with confidence, as they have managed to avoid defeat in each of their last five matches in all competitions, winning two and drawing three.
Under new head coach Hugo Broos, Bafana Bafana secured a spot in the upcoming African Cup of Nations tournament in Ivory Coast, and their next objective will be to make a solid start in the quest for a place in the World Cup finals, a feat they aim to achieve for the first time since 2010.
Among the main positive aspects under the guidance of Broos are the integration of a young team alongside experienced players and the new boss's willingness to make bold selection decisions.
During the AFCON qualification campaign, Bafana Bafana demonstrated their ability to mix it up with the heavyweights by defeating Morocco, while they also held Ivory Coast to a 1-1 draw in an away match last month.
Perhaps the biggest issue for South Africa in this match, though, is that they will be missing key players, and they will once again need to rely on their squad depth to get them through this first match.
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Meanwhile, Benin enters this fixture as clear underdogs and possessing relatively average form, having managed just one win in their last five matches in all competitions, along with two draws and two losses.
Like their opponents, Benin will head into this competition under the new leadership of Gernot Rohr, who is better known for having led Nigeria to the bronze medal in the 2019 AFCON tournament.
The new boss faces a very difficult task as he tries to navigate Benin to their first-ever World Cup qualification, though he does inherit several class players, including Steve Mounie, who applies his trade in Ligue 1 with Brest.
These two sides have only met once in the past, which was at the 2004 AFCON in Tunisia, where South Africa emerged victorious with a 2-0 win.
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Team News
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Lebo Mothiba, Thapelo Maseko, and Grant Kekana have been omitted 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 as replacements for the injured trio, while Burnley attacker Lyle Foster has stepped away from football to prioritise his mental well-being.
Jodel Dossou scored for Benin in their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier defeat in Mozambique in September and will be a key player for the national team in this competition despite challenges in his club career.
Former France junior international Cedric Hountondji, who has had short stints with New York City in MLS and Levski Sofia in Bulgaria, is expected to feature in central defence alongside Rabiou Sankamao.
South Africa possible starting lineup:
Williams; Morena, Hlatshwayo, De Reuck, Maela; Mokoena, Maboe; Tau, Zwane, Singh; Grobler
Benin possible starting lineup:
Allagbe; Sankamao, Hountondji, Adenon, Tijani; Dodo, Ahlvini, Olaitan; Assougba, Aiyegun, Dossou
We say: South Africa 2-1 Benin
Under new management, South Africa look like a much better side than they were four years ago, and there is genuine positivity around the camp about their chances in this competition. Benin are in a rebuilding phase at the moment, and while we expect them to give a good account of themselves here, we feel that the side from the South will be too good for the West Africans.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Devesh Jaganath
