Khuliso Mudau, left, captain Rownwen Williams, centre, and Percy Tau acknowledge Bafana Bafana's supporters after beating Lesotho.
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Bafana Bafana’s much-vaunted game-changers need to make an impact in Tuesday's pivotal clash against Benin at the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Benin does not have a CAF-approved stadium; hence, this 2026 World Cup qualifier will be played in neighboring Ivory Coast.
The performance of key players will be crucial for South Africa’s goal of strengthening their position on the road to next year’s Fifa World Cup. Another three points would put the side in a great position to qualify for the tournament in the USA, Canada, and Mexico next year.
Bafana Bafana's Percy Tau.
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The 30-year-old was delighted to be back in Bafana Bafana’s starting line-up after missing the entire qualification phase for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). In the absence of kingpin Themba Zwane, national coach Hugo Broos deployed Tau in the No 10 playmaker role.
He worked well trying to link up with the midfield, and on several occasions, he shook off his markers to move into scoring positions. However, he lacked composure in front of the opposition goal, squandering two scoring opportunities.
Broos is confident that, since Tau plays regularly in the Qatar Stars League (the top football league in Qatar), he will offer a stronger performance against Benin, who could bring the best out of him.
Bafana Bafana's Teboho Mokoena.
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The Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder was not his usual self, but it could be that he has been overworked by his club. Broos is aware of this and would have liked to give the player a rest, but he didn’t want to risk Bafana dropping points in a home fixture.
He came close to scoring from a set-piece, unleashing a trademark free-kick that narrowly missed the target. With fellow midfielders performing well around him, Mokoena didn’t exert himself but showed his class with some penetrating passes to the forwards.
The 28-year-old needs to impose himself more on the match when Bafana Bafana struggles to break into the final third. He can draw the opposition defense out of position and open spaces for the team’s frontline attack.
Bafana Bafana's Lyle Foster.
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The 24-year-old was a marked man against Lesotho and was singled out for intimidation. At times, he lost focus during confrontations with his Lesotho markers, which earned him a yellow card.
He owes the national team a top-drawer performance, and let’s hope it will come against Benin. He was unlucky not to score after his shot was denied by the woodwork early in the second half. Given his standing as a Premier League player, he must avoid attracting attention through foul play, as he’ll constantly be under the microscope.
If the talented Foster is more clinical against Benin, Bafana will benefit hugely and lay the foundation for another important victory.