With 11 points from nine matches played so far, Rwanda are no longer in contention for the ticket for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. However, Amavubi captain Djihad Bizimana warned Bafana Bafana that they are not in South Africa to give away free points in one of Group C matches that will decided who qualifies for the World Cup 2026. The pair square off in the final World Cup qualifying campaign on Tuesday, October 14, at Mbombela Stadium. The match kicks off at 6:00pm CAT. Rwanda are the only team to have beaten South Africa in this campaign. Gilbert Mugisha and Innocent Nshuti were on target in Rwanda’s 2-0 home win at Huye Stadium and they will be looking to replicate the same story away from home. Currently, South Africa are ranked second in Group C with 15 points and a victory at home would not only be a revenge accomplished but Bafana would also qualify for the World Cup in case Benin draw or lose to Nigeria. Hugo Broos and his men may already be thinking about winning the match but Bizimana fired a warning to the home team that it won’t be an easy game despite the fact that his country is out of the race for the ticket to the world’s most prestigious football event. “People think that we are here to ...But they are wrong because we are representing our country. We are to win to finish this campaign on a positive note,” Bizimana told journalists in a pre-match press conference. Team news Rwanda will be without defender Phanuel Kavita who didn’t finish Monday’s training session after picking up an injury. Striker Lyle Foster will also miss today’s match due to an injury. He was replaced by Stellenbosch star Ashley Cupido who was called up at the last minute. A three-way tussle! It is so hard to predict who will seal a spot in 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico for now as three countries, Benin, South Africa, and Nigeria, are locked in a tense triangle. Benin will clinch qualification if: They beat Nigeria. They draw against Nigeria, and South Africa do not beat Rwanda by a margin of three or more goals. They draw against Nigeria, South Africa beat Rwanda by a margin of two goals, and Benin outscore South Africa. They lose to Nigeria by a one-goal margin other than 1-0 or 2-1, and South Africa fail to defeat Rwanda. South Africa will qualify if: They beat Rwanda, and Benin lose to Nigeria. They beat Rwanda by a margin of three or more goals, and Benin draw vs Nigeria. They beat Rwanda by a margin of two goals, Benin draw vs Nigeria, and South Africa outscore Benin. Nigeria will seal their spot if: They beat Benin 1-0 or by a margin of two or more goals, and South Africa fail to defeat Rwanda. Group C standings (attached)
