South Africa defeated Rwanda 3-0 in Mbombela on Tuesday to win Group C and qualify for the 2026 World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thalente Mbatha and Oswin Appollis scored in the first half for South Africa before Evidence Makgopa sealed victory with a goal midway through the second period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
South Africa topped the table with 18 points, one more than Nigeria, who hammered third-placed Benin 4-0 in Uyo with Victor Osimhen claiming a hat-trick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It will be the fourth appearance by South Africa at the global showpiece. They qualified for the 1998 and 2002 tournaments and were automatic participants in 2010 as the host nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Qualification was a huge relief for South Africa, which saw a five-point lead with four rounds remaining turn into a two-point deficit behind Benin entering the final round.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
South Africa dropped points in home draws with Nigeria and Zimbabwe and forfeited three points for fielding the ineligible Teboho Mokoena in a victory over Lesotho.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
South Africa needed to beat Rwanda and hope Nigeria defeated Benin, and that is what transpired with the home teams making dream starts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nigeria were ahead within three minutes through Osimhen while Mbatha scored the first South African goal with just five minutes gone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A shot from Appollis midway through the opening half put South Africa in control, and Rwanda spent most of the match on the back foot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Makgopa, a late call-up in place of the injured Iqraam Rayners, headed into the net off a corner on 72 minutes to complete the scoring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Osimhen netted a second time before half-time and completed his hat-trick six minutes into the second half. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
An added-time goal from Frank Onyeka completed the rout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
South Africa becomes the seventh African country to qualify for the expanded 48-team World Cup next year in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They join Algeria, Cape Verde, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco and Tunisia, and the final two automatic qualifiers will be decided later Tuesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Group leaders, Ivory Coast and Senegal, need victories at home to Kenya and Mauritania respectively, to qualify.<\/p>\n\n\n\n