Bafana Bafana edged closer to securing their 2026 FIFA World Cup ticket after defeating Lesotho 3-0 in Bloemfontein on Friday evening.
2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifier
Result: Lesotho 0-3 South Africa
Date: 05 September 2025
Venue: Free State Stadium
Coach Hugo Broos decided to start Teboho Mokoena despite Lesotho claiming they would protest after the midfielder played against the COSAFA nation in March despite being ineligible, while Mbekezeli Mbokazi and Sipho were also given a starts.
Broos was forced to make a change five minutes into the contest as Nyiko Mobbie was forced off with an injury and replaced by Mamelodi Sundowns full-back Zuko Mdunyelwa.
The hosts made the most of their dominant start when they opened the scoring on 14 minutes when Aubrey Modiba did well to pick out Mohau Nkota, who sent a first-time finish into the corner.
Bafana were the dominant team throughout the first half, with Oswin Appollis, Lyle Foster and Teboho Mokoena seeing a lot of the ball and linking up to good effect as they went in search of more goals.
Click through the gallery above to see action from Bafana's win.
Bafana eventually got their reward in the 64th minute when Lesotho goalkeeper Sekhoane Moerane could only parry a long-range strike into the path of Lyle Foster, who made no mistake from close range.
Foster turned provider two minutes later when he held the ball up well before playing in Appollis, who calmly placed his shot into the far corner.
With a three-goal led on their side, coach Broos made a triple change for the final 15 minutes as Bathusi Aubaas, Kamogelo Sebelebele and Iqraam Rayners came on for Mbule, Nkota and Foster to see out the remaining stages.
The win sees Bafana remain top of the log, five points clear of second-place Benin and nine ahead of Tuesday's opponents in Nigeria, who must first overcome Rwanda on Saturday.
Here's how they lined up:
South Africa: Williams, Mobbie, Moloisane, Mbokazi, Modiba, Mbatha, Mokoena, Mbule, Nkota, Appollis, Foster
Subs: Goss, Ghaine, Ngezana, Le Roux, Kabini, Mofokeng, Shabalala, Mdunyelwa, Ndamane, Sebelele
