South Africa’s successful FIFA World Cup 2026 qualification campaign has captured plenty of headlines. The South African national team (Bafana Bafana) is now back on football’s biggest stage, having not appeared in this major tournament since being the hosts in 2010.
UK punters are starting to look beyond Europe’s usual giants and pay closer attention to emerging contenders from Africa that could cause an upset. As people now have more access to international leagues, more in-depth data, qualification campaigns from every confederation are becoming more and more part of everyday sports betting activity.
Holding off Nigeria in qualification
South Africa is going to their first World Cup for 16 years, after finishing top of the qualifying group. There was dramatic final-day action which sealed a ticket for the major tournament.
The achievement was made even more impressive as South Africa were deducted three points after they fielded an ineligible player against Lesotho. Key midfielder Teboho Mokoena was the player in question. He had already gotten two yellow cards in previous group games, which meant that he was supposed to be suspended for the next game.
While Bafana Bafana won the game 3-0, FIFA reversed the result, making it a forfeit 3-0 loss, which removed the points and goal difference. That put the team under pressure, but they still managed to finish in first place.
Surprisingly, Nigeria, a team that has appeared in three of the last four World Cups, didn’t qualify automatically. It also lost in the final of the African play-off to DR Congo on penalties. However, the Super Eagles are waiting to hear about a possible lifeline.
The Nigerian Football Federation claims that DR Congo had an ineligible player during the playoff. Whatever happens, the winner of the African mini playoff tournament still needs to face the winner of Jamaica and New Caledonia to get a World Cup spot.
The South African team
Hugo Broos is the South Africa team’s manager, having himself appeared at a World Cup as a player for Belgium. He’s been the South Africa manager since 2021 and he intends to retire from coaching after the 2026 World Cup. He brought the Bafana Bafana to a third-place finish in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, so he’s had success with the team.
Most of the South Africa team still play domestic football. Goalkeeper Ronwen Williams plays for Mamelodi Sundowns, which is one of the strongest clubs in Africa. He’s the team’s captain and is seen as the undisputed number one in South Africa. Teammate Teboho Mokoena is the national side’s tempo setter, bringing a composed presence in high-pressure games. Lyle Foster plays for Burnley in the Premier League and is known for his speed and strength.
What are their chances?
South Africa will fancy their chances of progressing from the group stage at a World Cup for the first time. They have been drawn in Group A, alongside co-hosts Mexico and South Korea. The final team is yet to be determined, but will be either Ireland, Denmark, Macedonia, or Czechia.
South Africa’s best chances are by being very well structured defensively. Teams like South Korea and Mexico would like to dominate the ball.
However, the pressure of a partial home World Cup will add pressure to Mexico, while South Korea have underwhelmed in recent World Cups. This is one of the softer groups in the upcoming World Cup, so it represents a good chance for South Africa to record a best-ever performance.
That’s also why a lot of people are now placing bets on the team making it out of the group. There’s been a major uptick in the number of people searching AskGamblers ZA for the best betting sites, as they compare bookmakers to get the best odds possible.
Final thoughts
Sharp bettors will be keeping a close eye on South Africa’s odds. As the World Cup picture becomes clearer, the final team in the group could play a big factor in Bafana Bafana’s chances.
Denmark is always a formidable side, but if there’s a shock in the playoff mini-series and someone like Ireland proceeds, the South African team won’t fear anyone. They’re a disciplined and defensively organised side that’s more than capable of springing a surprise or two. There’s always a surprise package in the World Cup, and South Africa could be this iteration’s dark horse.
