BAFANA CUP AAN

BAFANA Bafana beat Lesotho 3-0 at the Free State Stadium to maintain their lead at the top of their 2026 World Cup qualifying group on Friday.

After a nervy start to the match, coach Hugo Broos’ manne settled down and it was not very long before they opened their account through Mohau Nkota in the 15th minute.

Bafana could not find a second goal in the opening period ,but went into the halftime break with their 1-0 lead still intact. The visitors stepped up a gear in the second period and were eventually rewarded when Lyle Foster beat Lesotho goalkeeper Sekhoane Moerane in the 62nd minute.

Broos’ charges were in command at that stage and it did not come as a surprise when Oswin Appollis scored their third goal of the match in the 66th minute.

The victory was dampened by injuries to Nyiko Mobbie, who was substituted barely five minutes into the game, and Thabo Moloisane, who exited the match in the 52nd minute.

Broos wysed: “It was a tough game. I saw a very motivated Lesotho, and we did very well. We created chances, we scored, and we dominated.

“The only thing we had to do today [Friday] was stay organised and avoid silly mistakes – and we did exactly that.

“For us, it is a pity that we have these injuries again. Moloisane is not so bad, but Mobbie is out, and we will have to call someone else. We will decide in the next hour who that will be. It is the only negative point from this game, but it can happen in any game.”

Broos has called up Thabiso Monyane to replace the injured Mobbie.

Bafana maintained their five-point lead in Group C after Benin beat Zimbabwe 1-0 on the same day to move to second place with 11 points.