Though South Africa eventually topped Group C Africa World Cup qualifying series and will definitely be in the 2026 World Cup, the country’s government is still intent on somehow cleaning the Augean stable of its football federation because of the three points docked by FIFA from Bafana Bafana’s haul.
The FIFA hammer, which came on 29 September, 2025, shook South African football to its foundations and threatened to derail the country’s automatic qualification bid as Bafana conceded Group C leadership to unfancied Benin Republic.
It had to take Super Eagles’ 4-0 whitewash of Benin last week in Uyo to spare Bafana’s blushes even as the South Africans did their bit by spanking Rwanda 3-0 same day to eventually coast to automatic qualification.
However, apparently still seething over the near-embarrassment, the South African authorities queried the local football federation (SAFA) over negligence in the docked points matter, which had set the nation on edge.
They gave the federation seven days to explain the debacle of the docked points and why a suspended player, Teboho Mokoena, was nevertheless fielded against Lesotho in the March 2025 qualifying win away.
But, Confederation of African Football (CAF) has waded into the issue, baring its fangs and warning the government not to overstep its bounds.
CAF urged it to respect FIFA’s strict parameters on government interference in the pursuit of accountability.
Addressing the Sports, Arts and Culture Minister, Gayton McKenzie, CAF reminded him of the no-go areas in government’s quest for accountability in football matters.
McKenzie is going ahead with his demand for consequences from the SAFA team management for the embarrassing 2026 World Cup qualifier points debacle.
McKenzie said he has written letters to SAFA president Danny Jordaan, its CEO Lydia Monyepao, and FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
South Africa’s hopes of qualifying for next year’s tournament in the US, Mexico and Canada were left on shaky grounds after FIFA deducted Bafana the three points for fielding ineligible Mokoena.
But Motsepe said: “All countries on the continent, there is a clear understanding of the role and partnerships with governments and the sovereignty of every nation.”
Motsepe was speaking to journalist Vuyo Mvoko during a South African National Editors’ Forum fundraising gala dinner at Houghton Hotel in Johannesburg on Friday night.
“Football does not interfere with those sovereign matters of every country. The issue that relates to football is that governments should not interfere, so I would imagine what the Minister of Sport in South Africa is communicating with FIFA will be within strict parameters.
“If there are any issues, I am confident there will be discussions to make sure that those parameters are respected,” the CAF president added.
In the letter to Infantino, McKenzie apologised to the FIFA president for the administrative blunder and assured him he is not interfering with the administration of the game in the country.
McKenzie told SAFA he wants a detailed report on the timeline of events within seven days explaining what led to Mokoena playing while he was suspended.
*PHOTO CAPTION: Motsepe.
