Benin national team coach Gernot Rohr has shared what a victory over Bafana Bafana on Tuesday evening would mean to his side.
Following a 2-0 win over neighbours Lesotho at a packed Peter Mokaba Stadium last Friday, Bafana Bafana now sit at the top of Group C in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Read: Benni breaks silence after first Kenya defeat
Goals from Relebohile Mofokeng and Jayden Adams secured the win, taking South Africa to 10 points from five qualifying matches.
Hugo Broos' side arrived in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, on Sunday ahead of their match against Benin, which will be played at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny.
Benin head coach Rohr has expressed his desire to beat Bafana Bafana, acknowledging that the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations bronze-medallists are favourites heading into the clash.
"Yes, we have reached the halfway stage with five matches played. We [Benin] have had three away games and only two home matches, which were actually played in Abidjan and not in Cotonou, but we are second in the group," the German coach said, reflecting on his side's strong position, according to The Nation.
"If we beat South Africa on Tuesday in Abidjan, we will move to 11 points and go top of the group, which would be fantastic.
"As such, we are going to give everything and try to cause an upset against South Africa, who, on paper, are the favourites."
Notably, the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny is the same venue where South Africa defeated DR Congo to secure third place at AFCON 2023.
It's also worth noting that Broos' team has a superior head-to-head record over Benin, having beaten the West African side 2-1 in their previous World Cup qualifier in November 2023, thanks to goals from Percy Tau and Khuliso Mudau.
Read: Billiat co-Zim stars set for bumper bonuses?
By Lukhanyo Mtuta
Follow him here on X