Bafana Bafana’s Historic World Cup Qualification by the Numbers

Bafana Bafana’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign delivered both results and records, marking a historic moment for South African football. Under coach Hugo Broos, the national team ended a 23-year wait to return to the world stage, finishing top of Group C to secure their spot in next year’s tournament in North America, co-hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico.

Their qualification was sealed with a commanding 3-0 win over Rwanda at Mbombela Stadium on Tuesday evening. Beyond the celebrations, the campaign produced several key statistics that tell the story of Bafana’s resurgence.

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Bafana’s top scorers during the qualifiers were Lyle Foster, Thapelo Morena, and Oswin Appollis, each netting two goals. Morena stood out as the only player to score a brace, doing so in the 3-1 victory over Zimbabwe last year.

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The team managed three clean sheets during the qualifying campaign. Without the administrative setback that led FIFA to award a 3-0 victory to Lesotho for the fielding of an ineligible player, Bafana would have recorded four shutouts.

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Midfielder Teboho Mokoena was the most used outfield player, featuring in nine matches. Ironically, one of those appearances came in the match against Lesotho, which he was not eligible to play in due to suspension.

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Bafana Bafana’s attacking output was strong, with 15 goals scored across the qualifiers. The variety of scorers reflected the depth of Broos’ squad and the improved balance between defense and attack.

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Two emerging stars, Mbekezeli Mbokazi and Relebohile Mofokeng, made their senior national team debuts at the age of 19. Their inclusion underlines Broos’ commitment to integrating young talent into the senior setup.

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Iqraam Rayners made history by scoring Bafana’s fastest ever goal, finding the net just 31 seconds into the match against Zimbabwe. That strike set the tone for a 3-1 victory and remains one of the campaign’s standout moments.

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Captain and goalkeeper Ronwen Williams was the only player to feature in all 10 qualifiers, playing every minute of Bafana’s historic run. His leadership and consistency were vital in guiding the team to qualification.

Bafana Bafana’s journey to the 2026 World Cup reflects a steady rise in performance under Broos. The blend of experience and youthful energy has restored confidence in the national setup and reignited belief among supporters.

With qualification secured, attention now shifts to preparations for the finals in North America. The challenge will be maintaining the same discipline, tactical structure, and hunger that carried Bafana through the qualifiers. For now, though, the numbers confirm what every fan knows: South Africa is back on the world stage, and this time, they intend to compete.