Preview: Rwanda vs. South Africa

Sports Mole previews Tuesday’s World Cup Qualifying – Africa clash between Rwanda and South Africa, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Rwanda and South Africa will do battle for three crucial points in their CAF 2026 World Cup qualifying encounter at Stade Huye on Tuesday.

The hosts had to make do with a share of the spoils in their opening qualifier last time out, while the visitors managed to come away with maximum points.

Match preview

South Africa just about did enough to see off the threat of Benin Republic at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Saturday afternoon.

Hugo Broos’s men went into the interval with a two-goal lead thanks to strikes from Percy Tau and Khuliso Mudau but had to hold on for the final 20 minutes after Steve Mounie pulled one back.

That ended a run of two straight stalemates for the Bafana Bafana who are unbeaten in all but one of their last 17 outings across all competitions.

Lying in store next is the challenge of an opposing outfit currently 76 places below in the latest FIFA rankings of all national teams.

Off the back of consecutive victories in their last two competitive matches on the road, Tuesday’s hosts will be confident of getting the job done on enemy territory once again.

Rwanda played out a drab 0-0 draw against the Warriors of Zimbabwe when the sides went head to head in Wednesday’s Group C curtain-raiser.

Torsten Spittler’s men had the lion’s share of the ball possession and territorial advantage but were unable to find the all-important winner.

It is now six games without a victory for the Amavubi Wasps since the turn of the year split evenly into three losses and three stalemates.

Having failed to win a home game in over 18 months, Tuesday’s hosts will be keen to get back to winning ways in front of their fans and kicstart their World Cup qualifying journey.

Rwanda World Cup Qualifying – Africa form:

Rwanda form (all competitions):

South Africa World Cup Qualifying – Africa form:

South Africa form (all competitions):

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Team News

Bonheur Mugisha is a doubt for this one after he was brought off with an injury scare midway through the game against Zimbabwe last time out.

Should Mugisha be deemed unfit to participate, Olivier Niyonzima will be expected to return to the lineup for his first start in two months.

Forward Percy Tau put on a man-of-the-match performance for South Africa in the win over Benin and will be aiming to come up trumps once again.

Despite recently playing a fourth game in 18 days, 31-year-old Ronwen Williams is well on course to retain his place between the sticks for the visitors.

Rwanda possible starting lineup:
Ntwali; Omborenga, Manzi, Mutsinzi, Imanishimwe; Sahabo, Mugisha, Bizimana; Nshuti, Byiringiro, Niyonzima
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South Africa possible starting lineup:
Williams; Modiba, Mvala, Xulu, Mudau; Sithole, Mokoena; Tau, Zwane, Hlongwane; Makgopa

We say: Rwanda 1-2 South Africa

South Africa have been defensively solid of late and that has set the tone for a six-game unbeaten run. We are backing them to emerge victorious against Rwanda in what should be an open and end-to-end affair.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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