Aubrey Modiba of South Africa challenged byKatleho Makateng of Lesotho during the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers 2026 match between Lesotho and South Africa at Free State Stadium, in Bloemfontein on 05 September 2025. Image: Phakamisa Lensman/BackpagePix.
(The Post Script)– Bafana Bafana lit up the Toyota Stadium on Friday evening with a commanding 3–0 victory over Lesotho. They kept their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying dream alive. With this win, Bafana Bafana sent a strong message ahead of their crucial clash with Nigeria on Tuesday.
The Free State crowd did not wait long for fireworks. At just 15 minutes into the match, Mohau Nkota produced a moment of brilliance. He latched onto a clever pass before slotting home with composure to give Bafana Bafana an early lead. The roar of the supporters echoed across Bloemfontein as Bafana settled into their rhythm.
After a controlled first half, the hosts pushed harder in the second. Lyle Foster, ever the danger man, doubled the advantage with a clinical finish that underlined South Africa’s dominance. Lesotho was struggling to keep up with the pace and precision of Hugo Broos’ men.
The evening was capped off by Oswin Appollis. He struck in the 66th minute with a well-taken effort that sent the stadium into celebration mode. His goal sealed the win and reaffirmed Bafana’s growing confidence in Group C.
Despite the heavy defeat, Lesotho coach Leslie Notshiadmitted his side had work to do. He expressed that the results were not what they anticipated and emphasized that they “need to work on our decision-making.”
Broos Praises His Team
Bafana coach Hugo Broos praised his charges while reflecting on the pressure that came into the clash. “It was a nervous game because of what happened the last time, but we were never in danger,” he said with relief.
For South Africa, the mood was the complete opposite: focused, upbeat, and hungry. The victory pushes Bafana Bafana closer to booking their spot at the 2026 World Cup, with Tuesday’s showdown against African giants Nigeria now looming large.
Bloemfontein’s faithful left the stadium buzzing, believing that this generation of Bafana stars might just take them back to the world’s biggest football stage.
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