South Africa kept their place at the top of Group C in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers with a 3-0 win over Lesotho.
Mohau Nkota opened the scoring in the 15th minute with a smart volley from a tight angle. Lyle Foster doubled the lead in the 63rd minute, finishing after Lesotho goalkeeper Sekhoane Moerane pushed out Aubrey Modiba’s shot. Just four minutes later, Foster set up Oswin Appollis to make it 3-0.
Benin remain second in the group, three points behind South Africa, after Steve Mounie’s second-half header gave them a 1-0 win against Zimbabwe.
South Africa have not played at a World Cup since hosting the tournament in 2010. Their position at the top of the group is still uncertain, as FIFA has yet to decide on a case where midfielder Teboho Mokoena played in a March qualifier against Lesotho despite being suspended.
Coach Hugo Broos admitted the mistake: “We did something bad, something we shouldn’t have done, but there was no complaint.”
Nigeria, nine points behind South Africa, can reduce the gap when they face Rwanda on Saturday before travelling to Bloemfontein to play the group leaders on Tuesday.
Only the nine group winners will qualify directly for the World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States next year. The four best runners-up will have another chance through play-offs and an intercontinental qualifier.