Oswin Appollis of South Africa during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Rwanda at Mbombela Stadium on October 14, 2025.
Dirk Kotze/Gallo Images
Bafana Bafana booked their ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup with an emphatic 3-0 win over Rwanda on Tuesday at the Mbombela Stadium in Mpumalanga.
South Africa will make their first appearance at the World Cup since 2010 and fourth overall since readmission.
Goals from Thalente Mbatha, Oswin Appollis and Evidence Makgopa ensured Bafana walked away with victory and won the three-horse race for automatic qualification in Group C with 18 points.
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Hugo Broos’ charges brushed aside Friday’s disappointing result against Zimbabwe in Durban and delivered a performance that will be remembered for ages.
Here’s how we rated the performance of the Bafana Bafana players:
Ronwen Williams – 6.5
The Bafana captain’s presence on the field was all that mattered on the day. He was never called into action as the defence kept Rwanda at bay, but he was always switched on. Williams’ influence in the build-up was there to see; his passing and distribution skills were once again top notch.
Khuliso Mudau – 8
Africa’s best right-back put on another flawless performance, dominating in defence and galloping forward to contribute to the attack. Mudau combined well with Mamelodi Sundowns teammate Thapelo Morena in the opening half hour of the match.
Nkosinathi Sibisi – 7
Sibisi was comfortable on the ball, progressing it to the midfield to initiate attacks. He was always on hand to support Khuliso Mudau or Thalente Mbatha when they passed back. In defence, his positioning helped to plant seeds of doubt in Rwanda’s attack.
Khulumani Ndamane – 8
The 21-year-old centre-back was composed on the left side, great on the ball and solid in defence. He used his big frame to head out any ball that came aerially and, boy, was he was impressive. Bafana once lacked a left centre-back, but now they have depth in quality with Ndamane, Mbekezeli Mbokazi and Rushwin Dortley.
Aubrey Modiba – 7
Modiba produced a professional performance on the left flank. He won the ball with ease when the left side was under threat, added numbers in the middle of the park, and knew when to go forward. The 30-year-old allowed his partner on the left wing, Oswin Appollis, to attack with freedom and not worry too much about his defensive duties as he tracked back only occasionally.
Thalente Mbatha – 8
The Orlando Pirates midfielder set the tone for Bafana’s night with a wonder goal; he always finds the back of the net when playing for the national team. Mbatha complemented Teboho Mokoena in the midfield, provided security for the defence, and played great line-breaking passes.
Teboho Mokoena – 8
The Bafana Bafana general bossed things in the middle of the park; he is an integral part of the team’s spine. Mokoena dictated the tempo of the match and was always on hand to receive the ball and sat back to provide cover when Thalente Mbatha pushed forward and joined the attack.
Sipho Mbule – 8
Umjita uyalazi (this guy knows football). Mbule’s resurgence has been great for South African football. The midfield maestro pulled the strings from the No 10 role, dropping deep to connect with play through his clever touches and combination play. One thing that stood out from his performance was how he gave others around him confidence. The Orlando Pirates player has been Bafana’s standout player in this window.
Thapelo Morena/Mohau Nkota – Combined rating of 7
Thapelo Morena was dangerous for the 30 minutes he played, having variation in his attack. He ran into space behind the defence and drifted inside, making space for Mudau to hug the line. He was visibly disappointed when he walked off injured. Morena’s replacement, Mohau Nkota, went back to basics with his wing play. Nkota focused on getting the ball into the box with crosses and pull-backs. He didn’t do anything fancy; he just did the basics.
Evidence Makgopa – 8
When questioned about Makgopa’s inclusion in the team, Hugo Broos reminded the press about his performances in the last Afcon. Makgopa repaid Broos’ faith in him with a career-defining performance in the national team colours. The Bucs striker executed his role well in the system, kept Rwanda guessing with his running, had a role in Oswin Appollis’ goal, and topped it off with a great header.
Oswin Appollis – 9
Oswin Appollis’ growth in the national team setup since returning from the Afcon in Ivory Coast has been amazing. He produced another man-of-the-match performance; he was all over the pitch and leading the attack. Appollis was confident and direct on the ball with his speed and wizardry. The Orlando Pirates winger had his hand in Bafana’s goals and even scored a scorcher.
