By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
South Africa beat Lesotho 3-0 at the Toyota stadium in Bloemfotein to preserve their lead at the top of their qualifying group for the 2026 Fifa World Cup.
Bafana Bafana suffered an early injury blow, with Nyiko Mobbie picking up a knock to the head, which saw him replaced by Zuko Mdunyelwa in the sixth minute.
Just past the quarter-hour mark, Bafana Bafana surged into the lead, with Mohau Nkota providing a classy finish to Aubrey Modiba’s lofted cross for his first senior national team goal.
Nkota’s goal was a rare flash of composure in a first 45 minutes that was characterised more by broken passages of play, as both teams struggled to find fluency amid a series of niggling fouls.
Nonetheless, South Africa were worthy of taking a one-goal advantage into the halftime interval.
The ‘visitors’ had another injury-enforced change in defence early in the second stanza, with Thabo Moloisane also suffering a blow to the head. Khulumani Ndamane was introduced off the bench.
Bafana took a stranglehold on the game in the 63rd minute, as a sustained spell of pressure culminated in Aubrey Modiba’s shot being spilt by Moerane, and Lyle Foster was on hand to tuck home the loose ball at close range for 2-0.
Foster then went from scorer to provider, teeing up Oswin Appollis in the 67th minute, and the winger tucked home a low shot to make it 3-0 and effectively end the game as a contest.
South Africa were then able to go into game management mode and cruise through the remainder of the encounter.
The teams will return to Group C action next Tuesday, 9 September, with South Africa hosting Nigeria in Bloemfontein, while Lesotho will face Benin in Abidjan.
Elsewhere, Yoane Wissa netted on his first appearance of the season as DR Congo won 4-1 in South Sudan to keep their bid for the 2026 finals on track.
Uganda revived their hopes in Group G as Rogers Mato netted twice in a 4-0 home win over Mozambique. The Cranes are up to second, six points behind Algeria, with three rounds of fixtures remaining.