'I'm happy' - Rwanda coach commends South Africa and Nigeria, says Africa needs strong representatives

South Africa's Bafana Bafana have qualified for the Fifa World Cup for the first time since hosting the tournament in 2010, overcoming a turbulent qualifying campaign that included a points deduction ahead of Tuesday evening's decisive clash with Rwanda's Wasps.

In a historic milestone for South African football, all four national teams - Bafana Bafana (senior men), Amajita (U20 men), Amajimbos (U17 men) and Banyana Banyana (senior women) - have qualified for their respective World Cups in the same cycle.

Competing in one of the tightest groups on the African continent, South Africa topped Group C of the World Cup qualifiers after a commanding 3-0 victory over Rwanda, finishing with 18 points, one ahead of second-placed Nigeria, who secured a playoff berth.

The Super Eagles also rose to the occasion on matchday ten, thrashing Benin Republic 4-0 in Uyo, with Victor Osimhen netting his third career hat-trick in Nigerian colours to keep their World Cup hopes alive.

Following the results, Rwanda coach Adel Amrouche extended his congratulations to Nigeria for reaching the 2026 Fifa World Cup playoffs, expressing confidence that the Super Eagles possess the quality to represent Africa with pride on the global stage.

Amrouche also praised both South Africa and Nigeria for their achievements, urging them to maintain high standards as ambassadors of African football.

"I am happy for the coach of Bafana Bafana and for all the teams, because Africa needs people who can represent us — like Nigeria, a strong team that can represent the continent at the World Cup," Amrouche said at the post-match press conference.

"And now the responsibility is big on them, because when you play for the continent, you must give more than what we saw in these qualifiers. You must always be at the top."

Subject to October's Fifa ranking to be released next Thursday, the Super Eagles will face Gabon in the semifinal of the continental playoffs in Morocco on November 13.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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