South Africa thrashed Rwanda 3-0 in their final 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification (Group C) match played at the Mbombela Stadium on Tuesday night to book their ticket to the global showpiece.<\/p>\n
South Africa takes a deep breath \ud83c\uddff\ud83c\udde6\ud83d\udca5<\/p>\n
Bafana Bafana \ud835\udc16\ud835\udc08\ud835\udc0b\ud835\udc0b return to the #FIFAWorldCup<\/a> \ud83c\udfc6\u2708\ufe0f#WCQ<\/a> | #SSFootball<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/sjcOxHknpE<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 SuperSport Football \u26bd\ufe0f (@SSFootball) October 14, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n The result saw Bafana Bafana qualify for the World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the USA as Group C winners.<\/p>\n \ud835\udc13\ud835\udc08\ud835\udc02\ud835\udc0a\ud835\udc04\ud835\udc13 \ud835\udc12\ud835\udc13\ud835\udc00\ud835\udc0c\ud835\udc0f\ud835\udc04\ud835\udc03 \ud83c\uddff\ud83c\udde6\u2708\ufe0f<\/p>\n Bafana Bafana are on their way to the 2026 #FIFAWorldCup<\/a> \ud83c\udf9f\ufe0f\u26bd pic.twitter.com\/TlX8bAYGri<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 SuperSport Football \u26bd\ufe0f (@SSFootball) October 14, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n The Southern African giants will now play international friendly matches as they prepare for December’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.<\/p>\n Amavubi, on the other hand, ended a disappointing qualifying campaign with a defeat and they finished fifth in the group standings.<\/p>\n The East African side also failed to qualify for the 2025 AFCON and they are likely to play friendly matches in the next FIFA break.<\/p>\n Bafana Bafana got off to a brilliant start with Oswin Appollis causing havoc for the Amavubi defence.<\/p>\n The quick winger set up Thalente Mbatha, who netted with a powerful shot from outside the box to hand South Africa a 1-0 lead five minutes into the match.<\/p>\n A moment for this rocket from Thalente Mbatha \ud83c\uddff\ud83c\udde6\ud83d\ude80#WCQ<\/a> | #SSFootball<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/QDodsz8bPD<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 SuperSport Football \u26bd\ufe0f (@SSFootball) October 14, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n The hosts doubled their lead four minutes before the half-hour mark after a good team move.<\/p>\n Appollis grabbed a well-deserved goal after being set up by his Orlando Pirates teammate Evidence Makgopa and South Africa were 2-0 up at the interval.<\/p>\n Oswin Appollis doubles Bafana Bafana’s lead with a cracker \ud83c\uddff\ud83c\udde6\ud83d\udca5<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcfa Stream #WCQ<\/a> on DStv: https:\/\/t.co\/B0jLrQW5cc<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/HxZF6zEr67<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 SuperSport Football \u26bd\ufe0f (@SSFootball) October 14, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Hugo Broos’s side did not take their foot off the pedal after the restart as they continued to launch attacks and they extended their lead in the 72nd minute.<\/p>\n Appollis grabbed his second assist of the game as his corner-kick was headed home by Evidence Makgopa, who sealed South Africa’s 3-0 win.<\/p>\n Straight from the training ground and onto the pitch \ud83c\udfaf<\/p>\n Evidence Makgopa rises highest to get South Africa’s third \ud83c\uddff\ud83c\udde6\ud83d\udca5<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcfa Stream #WCQ<\/a> on DStv: https:\/\/t.co\/B0jLrQW5cc<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/A0ps4WEqIK<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 SuperSport Football \u26bd\ufe0f (@SSFootball) October 14, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n South Africa (2) 3 (Mbatha 5′, Appollis 26′, Makgopa 72′)<\/p>\n Rwanda 0<\/p>\n South Africa: Williams; Mudau, Ndamane, Sibisi, Modiba; Mokoena, Mbatha (Shabalala 89′), Mbule (Aubaas 89′); Appollis, Morena (Nkota 35′), Makgopa (Cupido 85′)<\/p>\n Rwanda: Ntwari; Mutsinzi, Byiringiro, Manzi, Niyomugabo (Hamon 68′); Bizimana (Nkulikiyimana 85′), B. Mugisha, Muhire, Kwizera (Imanishimwe 52′), G. Mugisha, Nshuti (Biramahire 68′)<\/p>\n