November 21, (THEWILL) – In a shocking result, Rwanda claimed an impressive 2-0 victory over South Africa on Tuesday, in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match. Goals from Innocent Nshuti and Gilbert Mugisha in the first 30 minutes propelled the underdog Rwandans to the upset win at Huye Stadium in Butare.
The victory came against a South African side that was expected to collect three easy points after defeating Benin 2-1 in their previous qualifier. However, the Rwandans executed their game plan perfectly from the opening whistle. Nshuti pounced on a ball over the top in the 12th minute and smashed a low shot past goalkeeper Ronwen Williams to stun the favoured visitors.
Mugisha then doubled Rwanda’s lead in the 28th minute after capitalising on a defensive error to slot home from close range. Despite battling hard for a comeback in the second half, South Africa’s attack struggled to break down the resolute Rwandan defence.
The 2-0 scoreline held firm through the final whistle, delivering Rwanda a famous result to top Group C with four points from two matches. South Africa sits second with three points while Nigeria is third on two points.
The upset has positioned Nigeria favourably ahead of their next qualifier against South Africa in June 2024. A win would boost the three-time African champions Super Eagles ahead of the visiting Bafana Bafana. In Group C’s other result, Lesotho held Benin to a 0-0 draw on Tuesday.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
