Bafana Bafana boosted their World Cup qualification hopes following a 2-0 victory against Benin in Abidjan, Ivory Coast on Tuesday.
South Africa ensured they secured six points from two games when they recorded another 2-0 win to take them to 13 points in their group, five ahead of both Rwanda and Benin, who both have eight points.
Bafana Bafana were frustrated in the first half, which ended goalless, but improved in the second half when Lyle Foster scored the first goal from a great pass brought in by left-back Fawaaz Basaiden in the 54th minute before substitute Jayden Adams headed home the second six minutes from time from Oswin Appollis’ freekick.
Basadien made a great run on the left after receiving a good ball from the defence and squared the ball to an on-rushing Foster who hit it first-time.
How did South Africa kill off Benin?
The Burnley striker’s effort then hit the post before luckily rolling into the net, when it had appeared like it was going out.
It was the goal South Africa’s second half energy and positivity deserved and they kept the pressure.
However, they had to wait until late for the second goal when Appollis lofted in a great ball from a freekick and Adams, who had been introduced in the 75th minute, headed home.
The Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder, who scored on his first start last Friday, ensured the points were safe for the second successive game, when his header bounced before it went in.
Bafana Bafana escaped in the first half
South Africa had escaped in the first half when Basadien lost his man, allowing Benin winger Junior Olaitan to get in on goal but his header was well saved by Ronwen Williams.
That was the only chance of note for the home side before Khuliso Mudau came close in the 19th minute when he made a great run in the box and took a shot when he should have squared to Foster and the Burnley forward had another opportunity five minutes later.
A first-time ball from Williams was met by the Burney forward but he was denied just before he pulled the trigger.
Victory leaves Bafana Bafana out on their own in Group C as they have 13 points from six matches, five more than both Rwanda and Benin, with Nigeria on seven, Lesotho six and Zimbabwe bottom with four points.
