STINGING THE WASPS

TRICKY:BAFANA FACE CLOSE-BOOK RWANDA IN WORLD CUP QUALIFIER AWAY

By Ali Mphaki

“If I be waspish, best beware my sting” writes William Shakespeare, The Taming of the Shrew.
These words from the Bard should serve as a cautionary reminder to Bafana Bafana not to underestimate their opponents Rwanda on Tuesday afternoon.

In this their first official encounter it is Bafana Bafana who are going into this match tails up, having gotten off to a flying start to their World Cup qualifiers when they beat Benin 2-1 in Durban on Saturday.

The Wasps, on the other hand, as the Rwandan national team is known, has been lacking that sting, and come to this game after two draws – 0 – 0 against Zimbabwe and 1-1 against Senegal – the two draws at the back of a 2-nil defeat at the hands of Mozambique in August.

South Africa tops Group C where they are placed alongside Benin, Rwanda, Nigeria, Zimbabwe and Lesotho – not the worst group, but tricky if you take a look at the results of the past few days, and the draws that have taken place, especially Nigeria.

Nigeria suffered a second setback in four days to their hopes of competing at the 2026 Fifa World Cup after drawing 1-1 with Zimbabwe on Sunday
Last Thursday, Nigeria also had to come from behind to draw 1-1 at home against Lesotho, the lowest ranked of the six Group C teams.
Lesotho will host Benin in Durban on Tuesday.
“So winning at home is important and when you don’t, you have to pick up the points away and in Africa it is very difficult,” said Bafana coach Hugo Broos.

But if Bafana’s perfomance against Benin is anything to go by, Broos’ charges played flowing football initially but lost their attacking rhythm after the restart.
A not impressive win but three points nevertheless.

If Bafana are to take the sting out of The Wasps on Tuesday, they will go four points clear of Nigeria after just two rounds.