Some great outings, but still a lot more room for improvement

In the pre-Hugo Broos-era, the idea of back-to-back wins, especially in World Cup qualifiers, was a non-existent topic. Hence, Bafana Bafana last qualified for the global showpiece in 2002 – forget the 2010 qualification by default.

- MALIBONGWE MDLETSHE

For Broos to achieve this rare feat in the recent qualifiers against Southern African neighbours Lesotho, the West Africans Benin, he was always going to require some bold individual performances. So, we rated the combined run-on XI, which gives us 14 players.

The number 14 comes from the fact that Broos made only three changes in the run-on XI against Benin from the starters who faced Lesotho in Polokwane. Thapelo Morena, Bathusi Aubaas and Thalente Mbatha replaced Elias Mokwana, Jayden Adams and Tebogo Mokoena.

Ronwen Williams | 6 out of 10

Two clean sheets is any goalkeeper’s ideal return. Williams, though, was rarely tested in these two matches. He was called on to make one save against Lesotho, who managed just one shot on target, and saved another weak header against Benin. He almost deserves no rating or a straight 10 for clean sheets.

Khuliso Mudau | 6

He was effective in his primary task of thwarting opposition attacks and, as always, executed his forward overlaps well, especially in the second match in Abidjan, where Benin showed more aggression and commitment compared to Lesotho.

Siyabonga Ngezana | 7