Sa Clubs Have Good Memories In Ivory Coast, And That Could Help Bafana Bafana

Bafana Bafana will visit Benin at the neutral venue of Stade Flix Houphout-Boigny in Ivory Coast on Tuesday kick-off 6pm, hoping to extend their lead at the top of Group C. Bafana currently lead the table with 10 points in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers group stage, two ahead of second-placed Benin.

A win for Broos and his men in West Africa could take them a step closer to the global showpiece finals in North America the US, Canada, and Mexico next year.

The good thing for Bafana is that South African clubs, both domestically and internationally, have fond memories of Ivory Coast and Flix Houphout-Boigny, while others will be eager to create their own.

Bafana achieved their first podium finish in the AFCON finals in more than a decade in the last edition in Ivory Coast under coach Hugo Broos. That victory not only engraved Broos' name in the history books but also restored national faith in the team. Since that continental showpiece, Bafana have been playing in sold-out venues on home soil, including their last World Cup qualifier against Lesotho.

The road to West Africa is usually bumpy for Bafana, as they have historically struggled to get results. However, they defied expectations by drawing 1-1 with Ivory Coast in a friendly late in 2023.