Bafana Bafana began their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign with a 2-1 victory over Benin at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.
Six players from Mamelodi Sundowns were included in the side, including Ronwen Williams, Khuliso Mudau, Mothobi Mvala, Aubrey Modiba, Teboho Mokoena and Themba Zwane while Percy Tau was back in the side after missing the national side's last two matches.
Former Sundowns star Percy Tau got the ball rolling on three minutes when he came short to combine with Modiba near the half-way line and sneaked into the area to finish off the move.
Benin's major scare came midway in the first half where a first-time header in the box from captain Steve Mounie rolled agonizingly wide following a long throw-in.
Tau showed up again after the half-hour mark through a pull back after bursting clear from the right and tossed and turn to force a near post save from goalkeeper Saturnin Allagbe.
Bafana added a second goal on the stroke of halftime as Zwane's loose shot from close-range bounced off Allagbe and Mudau stepped in to direct the loose ball into the roof of the net.
The Cheetahs made a change before the second half resumed and saw Steve Traore introduced in the place of Andreas Hountondji.
It was a quiet opening to the second half with both teams sussing out each other before Bafana watched a snap shot from a tight angle by Zwane cleared off the line.
Bafana continued pushing but were left vulnerable and saw a counter-attack by Cheetahs result in a pin-point cross to the area for Mounie to side-foot past Williams with 20 minutes to go.
The host pulled on two substitutions ten minutes later in Sibongiseni Mthethwa for Zwane and Mihlali Maymabela ahead of Bongokuhle Hlongwane.
However, Bafana didn't lose confidence before full-time but held firm to secure the win and start their World Cup qualifying campaign on a high.
Confirmed line-ups:
South Africa: Williams, Mudau, Xulu, Mvala, Modiba, Mokoena, Sithole, Zwane, Hlongwane, Tau, Makgopa
Subs: Goss, Mothwa, Mobbie, Sibisi, Cross, Adams, Lepasa, Kekana, Mthethwa, Xoki, Appollis, Mokwana, Mayambela
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