The South African Football Association (SAFA) employee(s) who almost cost Bafana Bafana their FIFA 2026 World Cup spot will face no punishment, according to president Danny Jordaan.
You would be forgiven for thinking heads would roll for the grave error, but no, it is business as usual at SAFA House.
Bafana Bafana were almost home and dry when FIFA acted and sanctioned Bafana Bafana for fielding an ineligible player in midfielder Teboho Mokoena, in the 2-0 win over Lesotho played in March, in the World Cup qualifiers.
The result was overturned, with Bafana Bafana forfeiting the match with a 3-0 scoreline in favour of the Mountain Kingdom, and as a result, Hugo Broos’s men almost missed the flight to America for the global showpiece.
FIFA also fined SAFA CHF 10,000 (R216,000), while the ineligible player, Mokoena, received a formal warning.
“Well, we are going to the World Cup, so the matter is closed,” Jordaan told Newzroom Afrika on Thursday morning.
“We are not interested in the matter. We are going to the World Cup. We have qualified, and that’s where we go. We are not going to dwell on what is behind.
“What is behind us is behind us; what is in front of us is the World Cup and the African Cup of Nations. We have spoken.”
Fingers have been pointed at Bafana Bafana team manager Vincent Tseka, ironically a Lesotho national, who was forced to close down his X (formerly Twitter) account in the face of criticism.
While others have called for Tseka’s dismissal, Jordaan insisted the matter is closed, with no punishment meted out.
“The coach (Hugo Broos) must have told you that we are focusing now on the next point, the African Cup of Nations in Morocco, and then the World Cup.”
However, Minister of Sport Gayton McKenzie has laughed off Jordaan’s claims and has insisted the matter remains open and under investigation.
“(A statement) will be out before the end of the day (16 October); we can’t leave this matter unattended. What have we learnt from this? We are a country with rules, and Brand SA got hurt tremendously by this blunder. No matter is closed, it’s opening now,” stated McKenzie.
