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Tag: SAFA

  • World Cup 2026: ‘Sorry’ SAFA  to appeal  Bafana’s docked points

    World Cup 2026: ‘Sorry’ SAFA  to appeal  Bafana’s docked points

    SAFA have responded to the news of Bafana Bafana being docked points by FIFA on Monday.

    Bafana have been docked three points for fielding an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, against Lesotho in a 2026 World Cup qualifier on 21 March 2025.

    The South African football governing body have acknowledged their error and apologised the supporters.

    “The South African Football Association (SAFA) acknowledges a ruling by FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee which sanctioned the Association for erroneously fielding midfielder Teboho Mokoena during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier between South Africa and Lesotho played on 21 March 2025,” the statement read.

    “In terms of the decision, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee declared the match to have been forfeited by Bafana Bafana by the score of 3-0. The Association has also further been ordered to pay a fine of CHF 10,000, while Mokoena has been issued with a warning.

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    “As SAFA, we are deeply disappointed with this unprecedented outcome noting that it was delivered by a single-member panel without reasons, and without affording the Association an opportunity to present legal arguments. 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.

    “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. Finally, we call on all South Africans to rally behind the team during this final and crucial stage of the qualifiers.

    “Bafana Bafana will next face Zimbabwe at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on 10 October 2025, followed by a clash against Rwanda at the Mbombela Stadium on 14 October 2025. Both matches will kick off at 18h00.”

  • WC 2026: FIFA begins probe of  SAFA, Mokoena over eligibility breach 

    WC 2026: FIFA begins probe of  SAFA, Mokoena over eligibility breach 

    The world soccer ruling body, FIFA,  has launched disciplinary proceedings against the South African Football Association (SAFA) and midfielder Teboho Mokoena for allegedly fielding the player while under suspension in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier.

    Mokoena featured in South Africa’s 2–0 win over Lesotho on 21 March in Polokwane despite being ineligible after receiving yellow cards against Benin in November 2023 and Zimbabwe in June 2024 — a sequence that should have triggered a one-match ban under FIFA regulations.

    In a letter to SAFA dated 15 September 2025, FIFA confirmed that both the association and the 28-year-old player face charges of breaching disciplinary rules related to the use of an ineligible player. The case has been referred to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, with SAFA and Mokoena given six days to respond.

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    If found guilty, Bafana Bafana could be forced to forfeit the result, which would award Lesotho a 3–0 victory on paper, alongside potential fines or suspensions. Such a ruling would see Hugo Broos’ side drop level on 14 points with Benin after eight matches, though they would remain top on goal difference (+6 compared to +4).

    Lesotho would rise to nine points but stay in fifth place, two points behind Nigeria and Rwanda, who are tied on 11 points apiece. South Africa would then need victories over Zimbabwe and Rwanda in October, while hoping Benin falters against both Rwanda and Nigeria, to secure qualification.

    SAFA has not yet issued a public statement on the matter.

  • FIFA opens disciplinary case against SAFA, Mokoena over eligibility breach

    FIFA opens disciplinary case against SAFA, Mokoena over eligibility breach

    FIFA has launched disciplinary proceedings against the South African Football Association (SAFA) and midfielder Teboho Mokoena for allegedly fielding the player while under suspension in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier.

    Mokoena featured in South Africa’s 2–0 win over Lesotho on 21 March in Polokwane despite being ineligible after receiving yellow cards against Benin in November 2023 and Zimbabwe in June 2024 — a sequence that should have triggered a one-match ban under FIFA regulations.

    In a letter to SAFA dated 15 September 2025, FIFA confirmed that both the association and the 28-year-old player face charges of breaching disciplinary rules related to the use of an ineligible player. 

    The case has been referred to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, with SAFA and Mokoena given six days to respond.

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    If found guilty, Bafana Bafana could be forced to forfeit the result, which would award Lesotho a 3–0 victory on paper, alongside potential fines or suspensions. Such a ruling would see Hugo Broos’ side drop level on 14 points with Benin after eight matches, though they would remain top on goal difference (+6 compared to +4).

    Lesotho would rise to nine points but stay in fifth place, two points behind Nigeria and Rwanda, who are tied on 11 points apiece. South Africa would then need victories over Zimbabwe and Rwanda in October, while hoping Benin falters against both Rwanda and Nigeria, to secure qualification.

    SAFA has not yet issued a public statement on the matter.

  • SAFA to Bafana Bafana players: Join Anti-Xenophobic Brigade!

    Bafana Bafana players have been enjoined to join anti-Xenophonbic brigade, shun all manner of violence to serve as examples for others to emulate.

    The charge was given by the country’s football ruling body SAFA following forced cancellation of two friendly matches in less than 10 days.

    The Bafana Bafana were scheduled to take on Chipolopolo of Zambia in an international friendly on Saturday, a tie that would have marked the first in charge for new coach Molefi Ntseki.

    Unfortunately series of attacks on foreigners in the former Apartheid enclave forced Zambia to pull out just as Bafana Bafana were tidying up preparations to jet out to Lusaka.

    SAFA swiftly approached 2019 Nations cup debutants Madagascar to fill in the space but the Indian Ocean Islanders dispatched a “sorry we can’t make it” note to South Africa at the 11th hour.

    With less than 24 hours to September 7 date SAFA decided to disband the team that has been camping in Johannesburg for the friendly but not without charging the players to become campaigners against Xenophobic attacks which has not only affected business but even sports considered to be a major unifying force not only in Africa but across the globe.

    SAFA rose from a meeting with the players which was followed by a media briefing saying ““We want to reiterate that as SAFA we totally condemn these acts of violence in respect of the xenophobic attacks on fellow Africans as well as the criminal looting of businesses,”

    Nations cup debutants Madagascar pulled out of Saturday’s Friendly

    “SAFA has consistently and strong condemned the xenophobic attacks and the wanton attacks of foreign nationals. We reiterate our call that these criminals must be arrested and dealt with harshly.

    “We call on all footballers and sportspersons to join hands and unequivocally condemn any violation of the rights of fellow Africans in our country as well as xenophobic attacks. “said SAFA President Danny Jordaan

    Coach Molefi Ntseki who had looked forward to the friendly to help him shape his team ahead of the 2021 Nations Cup qualifiers billed for November, will now be hoping and praying that the usual convivial atmosphere that makes sports blossom will take the centre stage before the next international friendly window in October so that he can at least play two shape up matches before his first competitive outing in charge of the Bafana Bafana who won their first ever Nations cup in 1996 when the country hosted the Continental fiesta.

  • CAF names 2019 Nations Cup hosts

    The Confederation of African Football (CAF) says the decision on who will replace Cameroon as hosts of this year’s African Nations Cup (AFCON) finals has been brought forward to Tuesday.

    Executive Committee members were initially set to vote in Dakar on Wednesday but will now do so 24 hours earlier, with the decision to be announced at a subsequent news conference.

    CAF, however, did not provide a reason for the change.

    Egypt and South Africa were the only two countries to put forward their candidacies to replace Cameroon, which was stripped of hosting rights late last year.

    It will be the first time there will be 24 teams at the tournament.

    CAF, after several inspection visits over the last two years, said Cameroon would not be ready in time.

    There were no plans to have presentations from either Egypt or South Africa, but both countries have representation on the executive committee.

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    “We are ready to host the event tomorrow if needs be,” South African Football Association (SAFA) General Secretary Russell Paul told Reuters on Tuesday.

    “But we expect the vote will be a purely political decision.”

    South Africa plans to use the infrastructure built for the hosting of the 2010 FIFA World Cup if it is awarded the tournament.

    Egypt also has extensive football facilities, although in recent years attendances at local matches have been restricted because of security concerns in the wake of the Arab Spring revolution.

    Morocco had been the favourite to step in after repeatedly promising to do so if needed, but then surprisingly said it was not interested once Cameroon was stripped of hosting rights.

  • SAFA to confirm Nigeria, South Africa friendly

    SAFA to confirm Nigeria, South Africa friendly

    South Africa Football Association (SAFA) will later on Friday confirm a high-profile friendly against Nigeria for March 29, africanFootball.com reports.

    Earlier this week officials denied that the match was in the offing.

    Officials told africanFootball.com that the match will either be played in Free State or Johannesburg.

    Nigeria had planned a friendly with West African perennial rivals Ghana for March 29 in London, but world football governing body FIFA called it off because it was against the rule for a team to play international friendlies within two continents that will involve more than five hours flying time between the continents.

    Nigeria will now play Bolivia on March 26 in Uyo before flying out to South Africa for another friendly with Bafana Bafana three days later.

    Last October, Bafana upstaged the Super Eagles in Uyo to qualify for the 2015 African Nations Cup after the South Africans were forced to a 2-2 draw.

  • South Africa wants Keshi after World Cup

    South Africa wants Keshi after World Cup

    Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, could be the next manager of Bafana Bafana, with the South African Football Association keen to hire a tactician to improve the dwindling fortunes of its national team, Goal reports.

    Disappointed by the early exit of Bafana at the African Nations Championship (CHAN), SAFA is keen to find a replacement for present coach Gordon Igesund and the body is looking for a credible and experienced trainer who can turn things around from the grassroots like what Keshi has done with players from the Nigerian league.

    “We are not happy at all with the performance of our team in a competition that we are hosting. It’s unfortunate that we couldn’t even qualify from the group stage,” a close source to SAFA told Goal during the CHAN competition.

    “Yes Igesund is a good coach and has tried his best since he was appointed but I think it’s time we bring in somebody from outside to handle our national team like it is done in other countries.”

    While there have been rumours about the potential return to South Africa of former coach Carlos Quieroz who is presently in charge of Iran, the Nigerian is also one of the top names being listed for consideration.

    “I think there are some coaches SAFA has in mind to contact but honestly speaking it will be nice if Stephen Keshi can handle our team,” the source continued.

    “I believe he will achieve with the team, his track records have proved this. You know he qualified Togo to the World Cup although some problems he had with the Football Association there cost him leading the team to the World Cup. Now he has done it again with the Nigerian team.

    “So we believe Keshi can do a good job with this team if he agrees. We know he cannot leave his job now but we are targeting talking to him after the World Cup in Brazil,” the source said.

    Keshi’s contract with the Nigeria Football Federation which runs until November 2015 has been slated for extension, but the trainer could be tempted by a quest for new horizons and greener pastures after being owed salaries for more than six months in 2013.

    His immediate task is to impress with the Super Eagles at the World Cup in Brazil.

     

  • Mandela challenge: Eagles’ list for Bafana tie out today

    Mandela challenge: Eagles’ list for Bafana tie out today

    Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, would on Wednesday release the list of invited players for the much-anticipated international friendly between Nigeria and South Africa slated for August 14 in Durban.

    Several players that featured for Nigeria at the African Cup of Nations and the Confederations Cup in Brazil would be included the list for the match tagged: “Mandela Challenge Cup.”

    New faces such as Obinna Nsofor and Shola Ameobi would also be considered for the match, futaa.com reports.