Bafana take down Benin to keep World Cup flame burning bright

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Bafana get a vital win in Benin, but a huge administration error could see them docked three points.

Bafana Bafana pulled off a hard-fought 2-0 away win against Benin on Tuesday that ought to have put them in a supreme position to qualify for the 2026 Fifa World Cup finals.

Lyle Foster and Jayden Adams, with his second in as many matches, got the goals at the Felix-Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan that put Hugo Broos’ side, for now at least, fiver points clear at the top of Group C.�

Bafana, however, were hit with news just hours before this game that they could be docked points for fielding midfielder Teboho Mokoena against Lesotho in Friday’s 2-0 Group C win.�

Mokoena had been booked in previous Group C qualifiers against Benin and Zimbabwe, and according to Fifa rules, should have been suspended for the Dikwena match.�

If, as expected, Fifa decide to punish Bafana, precedent dictates that the match against Lesotho would now be awarded as a 3-0 win for Dikwena.�

This means most of Bafana’s healthy lead at the top of Group C would evaporate. Only the group winners are guaranteed a place at next year’s World Cup finals in the USA, Canada and Mexico.

Mokwena was left out of Bafana’s squad for the game against Benin, but if ever there was a case of after the horse had bolted, this was it.�

Thalente Mbatha partnered Bathusi Aubaas in central midfield, with Jayden Adams back on the bench after scoring his first Bafana goal against Lesotho.�

Relebohile Mofokeng, the other goalscorer on Friday did keep his place. In the third minute, Mofokeng’s cross found Foster, but he headed wide of target.�

At the other end, Benin’s Andreas Hountondji sent in a ball that flew across the face of goal.�

In 15th minute, Foster did superbly to get to the byline and set up Percy Tau but he could’t get his shot away.�

Bafana goalkeeper Ronwen Williams then had to the be alert to keep out Junior Olaitan’s header.�

South Africa’s best chance of the half came when Khuliso Mudau burst into the penalty area, but opted for a shot from a difficult angle when passing to Foster would surely have been the better option.�

Bafana did go in front in the 54th minute. Basadien broke into the area and crossed for Foster whose shot was only half-stopped by Benin goalkeeper Marcel Dandjinou and trickled into the net.�