Rwanda welcome South Africa at Huye Stadium on Tuesday, November 21, seeking to register first win in their 2026 FIFA World Cup Group C qualifying campaign.
Amavubi opened the campaign with a goalless draw with the Warriors of Zimbabwe on November 15 whereas Bafana Bafana traveled to Huye in high spirits after defeating Benin 2-1 on Saturday, November 18.
The pair’s fixture promises to be an intriguing one as a win for either side could see them climb at the top of the table.
Times Sport takes a look at five things Amavubi can do to beat Bafana Bafana on Tuesday.
Start a tall striker as number 9
South Africa may have defeated Benin 2-1 in the first qualifying game last week but coach Hugo Broos said his side’s defense struggled against Beninese attackers who looked too tall to beat them in aerials.
Bafana Bafana struggled to deal with 1.90-meter Steve Mounie as the striker tormented their defense until he scored a late 90th minute goal at Moses Mabhida Stadium.
"The game that Benin played was very difficult. You also need guys of 1.90m height, we don’t have them,” Bruce said after the match.
The average height of the South Africans is approximately 1.78m, hence their height rarely helps considering in aerials. That is, they find it difficult to deal with taller players.
Coach Torsten Spittler has Arthur Gitego who stands at 1.93m, Patrick Sibomana at 1.79m and Lague Byiringiro at 1.85m at his disposal. He should just put Gitego as a central striker and, with his huge frame and height, the South African defenders could struggle against him.
At the back, Ange Mutsinzi (1.93 m), goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwari (1.93 m), Omborenga Fitina (1.91 m), Emmanuel Imanishimwe (1.79 m) and Thierry Manzi (1.80m). That department is well covered and looks safer at set pieces.
Rwanda must make the best out of the aspect to keep South Africa at bay.
Cut Percy Tau off the pace
The Al Ahly forward is arguably the most dangerous attacker in the South African team. Though very diminutive, he compensates with pace, skills and eye for goal.
Tau can operate from both flanks, as a number 9 and as a second striker. If the Rwandan defenders are able to nullify him, half of the job could surely be done.
He was on target against Benin in the second minute and he could pose similar danger against Rwanda should they not cope with his pace.
ALSO READ: 2026 WC qualifiers: Zimbabwe hold Amavubi in Spittler's debut test
Play to the pattern of Bizimana and Sahabo
Rwanda failed to beat Zimbabwe because the team failed to play to the rhythm of skipper Djihad Bizimana and teenager Hakim Sahabo who served as team engine from midfield.
The pair are technically gifted players who know what to do with the ball. They kept on giving incisive long passes which always caught the Zimbabweans unaware but the attackers failed to run into empty spaces.
Against South Africa, whoever leads the attack should adapt to the pattern of the two players, the goals would be guaranteed.
Get Mutsinzi-Manzi bond compact
Thierry Manzi is becoming error prone. Against Zimbabwe, he was saved twice by Ange Mutsinzi and goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwari after losing balls that could have led to goals.
Very few would doubt Mutsinzi’s defending skills, considering his expertise is reading the game but he will need to always be close to Manzi to cover his blunders in an attempt to cope with South Africa’s attacking threats.
Shoot from distance
With the exception of skipper Djihad Bizimana who tried three long range drives which missed the post by inches, none of the players tries to shoot from distance.
South Africa's goalkeeper Ronwen Williams is a suspect of conceding goals from long balls and Amavubi players should rise to the occasion, shoot from a distance and there must always be someone in vital areas to pounce on a rebound.