The South African Football Association (SAFA) has apologised to the nation following an administrative blunder that has put Bafana Bafana’s 2026 World Cup qualification hopes in jeopardy. The country’s Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, has also ordered a probe into the association’s handling of the matter.
On Monday, FIFA docked South Africa three points after ruling that midfielder Teboho Mokoena was fielded in their 2-0 victory over Lesotho despite being suspended. Mokoena had accumulated two yellow cards earlier in the qualifiers and should have missed the game. FIFA overturned the result, awarding Lesotho a 3-0 win.
Although SAFA has lodged an appeal, the sanction drops Bafana Bafana from 17 to 14 points, pushing them down to second in Group C behind Benin Republic, who lead on goal difference. With two matches left—against Zimbabwe and Rwanda in October—South Africa must now win both to keep their qualification hopes alive.
In a statement, SAFA expressed regret over the error and reaffirmed its backing for the national team.
“The players and technical team have worked extremely hard to reach this stage, and we remain focused on ensuring maximum points in the matches ahead. We apologise to the nation for this administrative oversight,” the association said.
Meanwhile, Minister McKenzie criticised the lapse and vowed accountability.
“The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture will lead a thorough investigation into the incompetence that led to this sanction. A comprehensive report will be compiled and shared with the public to provide clarity and prevent future occurrences,” he said.
Benin Republic, the biggest beneficiaries of FIFA’s ruling, will host Rwanda next before travelling to Nigeria, while the Super Eagles face Zimbabwe in their next qualifier.
