Bafana Bafana’s Teboho Mokoena in action during their 2026 World Cup qualifier against Lesotho at Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on 21 March 2025. (Photo: Philip Maeta / Gallo Images) 
South Africa is a country of great promise, capable of excellence across many spheres, but it is plagued by corruption and gross incompetence. The saga involving Bafana Bafana midfielder Teboho Mokoena being fielded illegally in a 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifier is the latest example of the latter.
The South African Football Association (Safa) and Bafana Bafana were sanctioned by soccer’s world governing body on 29 September, after Mokoena played in a qualifier against Lesotho in March. He should have sat out the match because of the two yellow cards he had accumulated.
He received the first one in November 2023 against Benin, and his second caution came in June 2024 versus Zimbabwe. Under Fifa rules, this triggers an automatic one-match suspension.
However, neither Safa nor anyone in the Bafana Bafana technical team picked this up. Appearing before Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture in June 2025, Safa said that keeping such records was the primary responsibility of Bafana Bafana team manager Vincent Tseka.
As a consequence of the oversight, coach Hugo Broos’s men were docked three points and relegated to second spot in their qualifying group. Their goal difference also took a major knock, getting slashed from a healthy +8 to just +3 because of the 3-0 retrospective forfeit to Lesotho.
This all happened with two qualifying games remaining. Only the top teams in each of the nine qualifying African groups are guaranteed to make it to next year’s tournament, which will be held jointly in the US, Mexico and Canada.
Safa, in turn, was slapped with a fine of 10,000 Swiss francs (R216,500) by Fifa. It’s another smudge on the already ailing reputation of the custodian of South African soccer.
Its president, Danny Jordaan, has been in and out of court over alleged misuse of Safa’s financial resources, along with chief of finance Gronie Hluyo. They were arrested in November 2024. To date, their attempts to have their matter struck from the court roll have proven futile, but they nevertheless maintain their innocence.
Read more: Danny Jordaan’s fraud case delayed further, following another postponement
Safa’s financial struggles are also well documented after it was bailed out by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture in December 2024. With Safa’s employees facing a bleak festive season because of financial constraints, the department approved a R5-million advance from the federation’s annual government grant.
With all these problems, Mokoena-gate is the last thing Safa needed. But it’s here now and it has jeopardised Bafana Bafana’s hopes of reaching their first World Cup since they played as hosts of the quadrennial soccer spectacle in 2010.
Extraordinary ineptitude
Safa was initially nonchalant after Fifa decided to charge it for the March mess last month. It said the sanction would be inconsequential as long as Bafana Bafana win their final two qualifying matches against Zimbabwe and Rwanda on 10 and 14 October.
But the repercussions have proven to be much more dire because South Africa now have to partly depend on other teams’ performances, in addition to the need for them to thrash their opponents.
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/TL_2376271.jpg "Lesotho’s Motlomelo Mkhwanazi and Teboho Mokoena during the 2026 World Cup qualifier in Polokwane on 21 March 2025. (Photo: Philip Maeta / Gallo Images)")
In the aftermath of Fifa’s announcement, Safa issued a statement confirming its intention to challenge the decision. “The association confirms that we have requested written reasons for the judgment and intend to lodge a formal appeal with the Fifa Appeals Committee within the prescribed 10-day period under Fifa’s disciplinary rules,” Safa said.
“Despite the outcome, the association emphasises its continued commitment to supporting Bafana Bafana in their qualification campaign. The players and the technical team have worked extremely hard to reach this stage, and we remain focused on ensuring they secure maximum points in the matches ahead.
“We apologise to the nation for this administrative oversight and will reflect on the steps to take at the conclusion of our qualifying campaign.”
The grounds for Safa’s challenge of the sanction remain unclear. There is no doubt that Mokoena was not supposed to play in that March fixture, which Bafana Bafana won 3-0.
Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie has promised to hold those responsible for the amateur error to account. “This development is deeply regrettable and has brought embarrassment to our nation and the game of football. We acknowledge that this situation has brought South Africa into disrepute and we must take full responsibility for addressing it,” he said.
“The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture will lead a thorough investigation into the incompetence that led to this sanction. We are committed to uncovering the root causes of this failure and ensuring accountability. A comprehensive report will be compiled and shared with the public to provide clarity on this matter and prevent future occurrences.”
Sucker punch for players
From the players’ perspective, Broos’s troops have been nearly faultless in their campaign. Their only major blip was a 2-1 defeat to Rwanda in the early stage of the qualification journey two years ago. Bafana may also rue the missed chances in their two 1-1 draws against Nigeria.
McKenzie, however, firmly believes that this group of Bafana Bafana players can overcome the latest setback. The last time Bafana Bafana qualified for the World Cup through their own sweat was back in 2002. Overall, they have played in just three World Cups.
“Bafana Bafana have played with immense heart and determination to secure their place in the World Cup next year and they deserve our unwavering support. This [point] deduction is but a bump in the road and we believe that we remain firmly on track for qualification. Our belief in the team’s ability to succeed is unshaken,” McKenzie said.
Read more: Coach Hugo Broos bets on Bafana’s fortified mentality before crucial World Cup qualifiers
Under Broos’s guidance, South Africans had an easier time calculating where the team stood in major tournament qualifiers. With the Belgian coach at the helm, the team have qualified for two successive Africa Cup of Nations, a rare occurrence.
But because of incompetence and negligence, South African soccer supporters will once again need to sharpen their arithmetic skills.
As for the players, they cannot afford to wallow in frustration due to administrative bungles. There is a job still to be done. Six points and as many goals as possible are the targets against Zimbabwe and Rwanda. DM
This story first appeared in our weekly Daily Maverick 168 newspaper, which is available countrywide for R35.
