Goalless draw dents Bafana Bafana’s World Cup hopes

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A goalless draw against Zimbabwe has left Bafana Bafana’s World Cup qualification hopes on thin ice.

South Africa dominated the encounter but failed to turn possession and pressure into goals, leaving their qualification fate hanging by a thread heading into Tuesday’s decisive clash with Rwanda in Mbombela.

For Hugo Broos’s side to reach the tournament in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, victory over Rwanda is now essential, and even that may not be enough. Bafana must also rely on Benin dropping points against Nigeria in the group’s final fixture.

South Africa were on the front foot for most of the night. Burnley forward Lyle Foster struck the crossbar and later saw his goal-bound effort cleared off the line, while Zimbabwe struggled to maintain any sustained possession. The visitors’ task became harder when former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Knowledge Musona was sent off for a second yellow card with half an hour remaining.

Despite the advantage, Bafana could not find a way past Marumo Gallants goalkeeper Washington Arubi, who produced several key saves to frustrate the home side. South Africa’s evening worsened when 20-year-old Orlando Pirates defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi was dismissed in stoppage time after picking up a second booking, ruling him out of the must-win fixture against Rwanda.

Elsewhere, Benin strengthened their position at the top of Group C with a 1-0 win over Rwanda, courtesy of a late Tosin Aiyegun strike. The victory moved them to 17 points, two clear of South Africa, while Nigeria’s 2-1 win over Lesotho saw the Super Eagles climb to within a single point of Bafana.

The situation is now clear. South Africa must beat Rwanda and hope Benin fail to win against Nigeria. Anything less will end their bid for a first World Cup appearance since hosting the tournament in 2010 — and their first qualification on merit since 2002.

Photo: Darren Stewart/Gallo Images

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Dylan Johnson