25 March 2025 – Bafana Bafana beat Benin 2-0 in a crunch FIFA World Cup qualifier at a sweltering Stade Félix Houphouët Boigny in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, on Tuesday to maintain their lead in Group C.
It was the occasion of Percy Tau’s 50th cap and while he did not find the back of the net himself, he worked very hard to ensure that coach Hugo Broos’ charges return home with the priceless three points.
Second half goals from Lyle Foster in the 52nd minute and Jayden Adams in the 84th minute were enough to give the visitors victory away from home.
Broos had said that he wanted six points from the two matches against Lesotho in Polokwane on Friday last week and against Benin in Cote d’Ivoire, and his charges met the challenge.
The Bafana Bafana coach said the victory was down to a very good analysis of the opponent and his players followed the instructions to the book.
“We knew where we could be dangerous against Benin. They are a good team, but what we did very well today was to keep possession and wait for the right moments,” he said.
It was a tough game in Cote d’Ivoire, but this Bafana Bafana side has proved time and time again that they can grind out the result in difficult conditions.
