2026 W/Cup qualifiers: South Africa beat Benin Republic to go top of Group C

Nigeria’s main rival in Group C of the World Cup qualifiers, South Africa, have taken the lead after MatchDay 1.
The Bafana Bafana today defeated Benin Republic  2-1 in South Africa.  The win, the first in the group has taken the country to the top of the Group with three points.
Nigeria and Lesotho are joint second with a point and goal each. Rwanda and Zimbabwe also with a point but no goal  followed.
Benin with no point and the only defeated side so far in the group are last.
South Africa made hays early in the game, scoring in the second minute through Percy Tau.
Johnson Mudau doubled the lead in the second minute of the added time of the first half.
Steve Mounie pulled a goal back for Benin Republic in the 70th minute.
Nigeria begin the MatchDay 2 of the group with a dicey tie against Zimbabwe in Rwanda on Sunday.
A win will give Nigeria a lead ahead of highly predictable duel of Lesotho against South Africa as Bafana Bafana make a short trip to the kingdom that is totally surrounded by South Africa. The match holds on Tuesday.