SAFA Pushes Back Against FIFA Sanction as Bafana Bafana Face World Cup Pressure

South African football has been thrown into the spotlight once again, and not for the reasons fans had hoped. FIFA’s decision to dock Bafana Bafana three points for fielding midfielder Teboho Mokoena against Lesotho has left supporters outraged and the South African Football Association (SAFA) scrambling for answers.

A Blow to Bafana’s World Cup Campaign

Earlier this year, Bafana claimed a convincing 2-0 win over Lesotho in Johannesburg, only for FIFA to overturn the result after ruling Mokoena ineligible to play. That ruling now awards the match as a 3-0 victory to Lesotho and has shifted the Group C standings. South Africa, who had looked set to top the table, now trail Benin on goal difference.

On top of the forfeiture, SAFA has been hit with a R216 000 fine. For a nation whose footballing journey has often been marred by administrative blunders, the sanction reopens wounds from past qualification heartbreaks, reminding fans how fragile the path to the World Cup can be.

SAFA’s Defiant Response

Unsurprisingly, SAFA has signaled its intent to appeal. In a strongly worded statement, the association described the ruling as “unprecedented” and criticised the fact that it was made by a single FIFA panel member, without an opportunity for the organisation to present legal arguments.

“As SAFA, we are deeply disappointed with this outcome. We have requested written reasons for the judgment and intend to lodge a formal appeal within the prescribed 10-day period,” the statement read.

This pushback sets the stage for a tense standoff between the federation and FIFA, as the deadline for appeals looms.

Broos and Bafana Face a Defining October

While SAFA battles the lawyers, coach Hugo Broos must keep his players focused on the football. His final squad for the qualifiers against Zimbabwe and Rwanda will be announced later this week, with the team assembling in camp from Sunday.

The equation is simple: Bafana must win both games in October to guarantee a place at the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico if the appeal fails. Anything less, and the dream of returning to football’s biggest stage could slip away once again.

Fans React with Frustration

On social media, South Africans voiced anger at what many perceive as yet another example of the national team being let down by off-field decisions. “We should be celebrating our road to the World Cup, not fighting legal battles,” one supporter posted on X. Others questioned how such an oversight was even possible at this stage of the campaign, with one fan writing: “This is not just a mistake, it’s a disaster.”

A Familiar Struggle

For Bafana Bafana, the timing could not be worse. South Africa last appeared at a World Cup in 2010 as hosts, and the hunger to return has only grown since then. With Broos having slowly rebuilt confidence in the squad, this sanction feels like yet another hurdle in a long line of setbacks.

But with the footballing nation rallying behind the team, October’s qualifiers could still be a turning point. Whether SAFA’s appeal succeeds or not, the fate of South African football may rest on how the players respond on the pitch.

{Source:SABC Sport}

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