Bafana Bafana’s World Cup dream goes down to the wire: What South Africa must do to qualify

South Africa’s hopes of reaching the 2026 FIFA World Cup hang in the balance after Bafana Bafana were held to a goalless draw by Zimbabwe in their penultimate qualifier on Friday at Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium.

The result has left Hugo Broos’s men needing both a victory and favourable outcomes elsewhere to secure their ticket to North America.

Elsewhere in Group C, Nigeria edged Lesotho 2-1 in Polokwane to close the gap, while Benin claimed a crucial 1-0 win over Rwanda to move top of the table.

The results have reshuffled the standings heading into the decisive final round of matches. Benin now lead with 17 points, followed by South Africa on 15, and Nigeria a point behind on 14. With all three sides still in contention, the final matchday promises a nail-biting finish.

For Bafana Bafana, the equation is simple yet demanding. They must defeat Rwanda in their final game to keep their World Cup hopes alive.

Even then, their fate will not be entirely in their own hands. South Africa will need Nigeria to beat Benin in their clash to overtake the group leaders and seal automatic qualification.

Should Benin win, South Africa’s route to the tournament will depend on finishing among the best runners-up across all qualifying groups — a scenario that introduces several permutations based on goal difference and points tallies.

After coming so close to direct qualification, Broos and his squad now face a defining moment in their campaign.

Their ability to respond under pressure will determine whether South Africa return to football’s biggest stage for the first time since hosting in 2010.

The final round promises drama, tension, and perhaps a few calculators as the nation hopes for a perfect ending to an unpredictable journey.