Broos Says Benin Clash Could Be Decider In Bafana Bafana's World Cup Qualifiers

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos believes that their Fifa World Cup 2026 qualifier against Benin on Tuesday kick-off 6pm could be a defining moment in their campaign, with the potential to either make or break their hopes of qualification.

Bafana are currently on a high, sitting at the top of Group C in the qualifiers with 10 points after three wins, one draw, and one loss in five games. Their impressive run of form has seen supporters rally behind them at home, hopeful that they could return to the World Cup finals for the first time in 16 years.

A packed New Peter Mokaba Stadium was in full voice on Friday as Bafana comfortably dispatched neighbours Lesotho, taking a major confidence boost into their clash against Benin. Broos' men will face Benin at the neutral Stade Flix Houphout Boigny, hoping to build on their momentum and take another step towards securing their place at the tournament in North America.

However, Broos was not entirely pleased with their preparations, as they were unable to train at the match venue yesterday due to a scheduled fixture between Ivory Coast and Gambia. While the Belgian tactician acknowledged FIFA's regulations, he also pointed out the contradictions in their own rules.

Despite this setback, Broos remains confident in his teams ability to overcome challenges, just as they did earlier in the campaign when they had to navigate logistical difficulties to reach Nigeria. That resilience, he believes, will be key as they take on a strong Benin side in Abidjan.