TAB WEEKEND SOCCER HIGHLIGHTS: 5 - 7 September

TWO KEY WORLD CUP MATCHES FOR BAFANA

Big-league club soccer is taking a rest for the next week after frantic spending on the last day of the transfer window on Monday, and centre stage is now dominated by 2026 World Cup qualifiers including key games for South Africa against Lesotho and Nigeria. TAB football customers have a range of opportunities to score big wins this weekend, including two carryover Soccer 10 pools (one a challenging combo of League One and Two games in England) and a R200,000 carryover Soccer Any 13 Xtra.

48 COUNTRIES AT 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP

Battles for World Cup places are hotting up. Beside the three host nations - Canada, Mexico and the USA who qualify automatically - another 10 countries have booked their place already. A total of 48 countries, versus 32 previously, will compete in the tournament that kicks off next June.

The enlarged field means nine guaranteed places for Africa at the finals and the first qualifier from the continent should be known this Friday when Morocco hosts Niger. A home win is all Morocco need to return to the World Cup after their heroics in Qatar, where they became the first African side to reach the semi-finals.

This week of international football sees the seventh and eighth rounds of African qualifiers taking place with many vital games next Tuesday, notably when South Africa hosts Nigeria in Bloemfontein. On the same day, there are key clashes that will have a major bearing on the outcomes of other groups.

The winners of the nine groups all qualify for the 2026 World Cup, plus the four best runners-up get the chance to chase one more spot through playoffs.

Tonight’s Lesotho-SA clash is M2 in a R100,000 carryover Soccer 10. Several Bafana regulars are injured, but coach Hugo Broos is confident South Africa can beat Lesotho and consolidate a five-point lead at the top of the group.

One only needs to look at the pool of players available to both countries to understand Broos’ confidence. Bafana have an English Premier League striker - Lyle Foster - in their squad and a host of players from the top teams in South Africa. Lesotho have Orbit College goalkeeper Sekhoane Moerane and Siwelele defender Thabo Makhale.

Leslie Notsi’s Lesotho do punch above their weight. They already have six points from six games in Group C, including a draw with Nigeria and a win over Zimbabwe. But Bafana should win, especially with the added advantage that they are playing this “away” game in South Africa. Lesotho do not have a stadium in their own country that meets FIFA requirements and take on Bafana not too far from their own border - at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein.

BAFANA FACING THREE-POINT DEDUCTION

Bafana beat Lesotho in March in Polokwane in Group C, though they took an hour to break down their opponents. That game has left a cloud hanging over Bafana’s route to the World Cup. South Africa fielded Teboho Mokoena, who was supposed to be suspended after picking up his second yellow card of the group stages in Bafana’s previous qualifier.

The rules seem to indicate a three-point deduction for Bafana with the result of that game reversed, but FIFA have not yet issued a ruling on the matter.

All Bafana can really do, for now, is make sure they keep on winning so that even a three-point deduction won’t stop them from going to the World Cup.

After Lesotho, Bafana take on Nigeria at the Free State Stadium on Tuesday. Nigeria have been vocal in reminding FIFA of the rules, not surprising given they are currently six points behind Bafana and in fourth place in Group C.

Bafana’s best way of shutting up the Super Eagles would be to beat them on Tuesday.

In the South American zone, Argentina, Brazil and Ecuador have all booked their berths for the finals and Colombia, Paraguay and Uruguay are expected to join them.

TWO R100,000 CARRYOVER SOCCER 10

Fri 5 Sep S10 V3

Suggested R32 perm: 1 x 3 x 1,2 x 2,3 x 1 x 3 x 3 x 2,3 x 3 x 1,2

Sat 6 Sep – S10 V2

Suggested R36 perm: 1,2,3 x 1 x 1,2 x 1 x 1 x 1,2,3 x 3 x 1 x 3 x 3