McKenzie Demands Accountability from SAFA After FIFA's Point Deduction

Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie has written to the South African Football Association (SAFA) demanding a comprehensive report following FIFA’s decision to deduct three points from Bafana Bafana.

FIFA imposed the sanction after South Africa fielded an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, during their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Lesotho in March.

In addition to the points deduction, FIFA also awarded a 3-0 victory to Lesotho, a ruling that temporarily saw Bafana Bafana drop from the top of Group C, with Benin moving into first place on goal difference.

However, the setback did not derail South Africa’s campaign. Bafana Bafana bounced back to defeat Rwanda, securing qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup by reclaiming the top spot in Group C.

Their qualification was also aided by Nigeria, who beat Benin to advance to the CAF playoffs next month.

I am writing to you in my capacity as the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, to formally request a detailed report from the South African Football Association (SAFA) regarding the circumstances that led to Bafana Bafana being stripped of their victory against Lesotho in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

As you are aware, FIFA’s decision to deduct three points from South Africa, converting the original 2-0 win into a 3-0 forfeit loss, stemmed from the fielding of an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena.

This incident not only jeopardized our national team’s qualification prospects but has raised significant concerns about administrative oversight within SAFA.

I acknowledge the recent statements to me from the SAFA President [Danny Jordaan], indicating that the matter has been dealt with and that the association has chosen to move forward without dwelling on the issue. However, we must prioritize transparency and accountability, particularly in light of the public’s valued interest in our national team’s performance.

The fans deserve full reassurance that appropriate measures have been taken, including thorough accountability processes, consequence management for those responsible, and the implementation of robust remedial actions to prevent such a grave error from recurring in the future.

This unfortunate event brought South African football into disrepute on the international stage, undermining the hard work of our players, coaches, and supporters.

We must demonstrate our commitment to upholding the highest standards of integrity in sport. To this end, I intend to write directly to FIFA to extend a formal apology for the oversight and to reaffirm South Africa’s unwavering dedication to abiding by the rules of the game.

We pride ourselves on playing fair as a nation, and we must restore confidence in our football governance both domestically and globally.

I kindly request that the report include a complete timeline of events, an explanation of how the eligibility error occurred, details of any internal investigations conducted, actions taken against responsible parties, and the specific preventive measures now in place. Please submit this report to my office within seven days of receiving this letter.

My department stands ready to engage further should you require any support in this process.

Thank you for your attention to this critical matter. I look forward to your prompt response and continued collaboration in advancing South African sport.