Bafana survived a late surge from the “Cheetahs” to hold on and secure three valuable points, which lifted them to the top of Group C after the first round of matches.
PERCY Tau and Khuliso Mudau scored a goal each as South Africa beat Benin 2-1 in a 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifier at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Saturday.
Bafana survived a late surge from the “Cheetahs” to hold on and secure three valuable points, which lifted them to the top of Group C after the first round of matches.
In the absence of regular No.9 Lyle Foster, Orlando Pirates striker Evidence Makgopa led the line in his first national call-up since September last year.
The nearly 12,000 spectators in attendance rallied behind Bafana from the first minute, buoying them up with their excited support.
It was therefore no surprise when the hosts quickly grabbed an early lead through star player Percy Tau in just the second minute.
Bafana’s midfield trio combined neat passes on the edge of the box before Sphephelo Sithole threaded the one that Tau chipped with composure against the onrushing keeper to put his team 1-0 up. The early breakthrough seemed to breathe life into Bafana’s legs as they dominated the opening half with 72% ball possession.
The Cheetahs of Benin seemed to have bitten off more than they could chew against Bafana as they struggled to trouble the home team with any form of attacking threat.
The two half-chances they had came through careless passes by first defender Mothobi Mvala and goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, but the Bafana captain reacted quickly to snuff out both moments of panic.
Tau, who had been a menace in the Benin defence throughout the opening stanza, should’ve doubled his side’s lead in the 39th minute after being played on goal by Tebogo Mokoena.
The Mamelodi Sundowns maestro lobbed a long pass over the Benin defence, but Tau’s first touch let him down and allowed the goalkeeper, Saturnin Allagbe, to gather.
Defender Khuliso Mudau quickly atoned for that missed opportunity six minutes later as he found Bafana’s second goal in first-half stoppage time.
‘Sailor’ as he’s affectionately known, somehow managed to ghost into the Benin box and was on hand to tap home from close range, after a scramble in the box and flap by the goalkeeper, seeing Bafana take a 2-0 lead into the break.
The first 15 minutes of the second half saw very little in the way of goalmouth action as Bafana took their time with their opponents, but in the process suffered two injury setbacks. Makgopa was the first to hobble off the pitch after an aggressive challenge in the 52nd minute and was replaced by Zakhele Lepasa, while Mvala followed him soon after with a muscle strain, Nkosinathi Sibisi coming on for him.
The reduction in tempo seemed to suit Benin as they capitalised off sloppy play by Bafana to pull one back. Striker and captain Steve Mounie came up with a reply after a well-orchestrated counter-attack by the visitors and did well to place his shot in the corner and past Williams.
That would be all the visitors could do as they failed to put together a comeback, but they remain in Durban to face Lesotho in their second Group C match on Tuesday afternoon.
