Rohr Claims South Africa Holds Edge in World Cup Qualifying Race
As the final round of 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers approaches, Gernot Rohr, head coach of the Benin Republic, maintains that South Africa still enjoy an advantage over their rivals in Group C.
Rohr pointed to the fact that seven of South Africa’s ten qualifying matches were played at home. This scheduling quirk stems from the inability of Lesotho and Zimbabwe to host matches in their countries due to stadium/venue inadequacies, forcing many of their “home” fixtures to be shifted to South Africa itself.
“They will play twice at home against Zimbabwe and Rwanda. So, seven matches from the 10 they played in South Africa. That is a big advantage,” Rohr told ESPN, while contrasting it with the grueling travel burden his own team has shouldered over the past 2½ years.
Rohr also acknowledged that South Africa’s path is not without obstacles. The country was deducted three points by FIFA after fielding an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, during their fixture with Lesotho earlier this year. That penalty allowed Benin to overtake them for first place, though both nations remain tied on 14 points after eight games, with Benin leading on goal difference.
Nonetheless, Rohr emphasized that challenges remain for his side too. His team must still travel to Rwanda and play in Uyo, Nigeria, in the final rounds, which he described as tough assignments.
If Benin can navigate those difficult matches, they stand a shot at qualifying for their first ever FIFA World Cup, a milestone that would carry immense significance for the team and the nation.