South Africa’s hopes of reaching the 2026 FIFA World Cup took a significant blow after FIFA deducted three points for fielding an ineligible player. But head coach Hugo Broos believes his side is still very much in the race for qualification.
FIFA awarded a 3-0 win to Lesotho after South Africa fielded Teboho Mokoena—who was deemed ineligible—in their March fixture. As a result, Bafana Bafana lost their top spot in Group C and now sit second on 14 points, behind Benin Republic on goal difference.
Meanwhile, Nigeria and Rwanda, both on 11 points, are hot on their heels in third and fourth place respectively.
Speaking to the press after announcing his squad for the upcoming qualifiers against Zimbabwe and Rwanda, Broos refused to let the point deduction shake his confidence.
“I know everything that happened in the last two weeks, but we’re still alive. There is nothing changed. After the game against Nigeria we were three points ahead. We still had to win our last two games.”
“Why believe Benin will win their last two games and we not? I don’t understand why people start doubting, and say we can’t qualify anymore.”
Broos emphasized that qualification remains in their hands — and that his players must focus on performance rather than the controversy.
While remaining optimistic, Broos didn’t shy away from taking responsibility for the administrative error that led to the penalty.
“People have to stop now to look for who is responsible, we all know he made a mistake. But between the first match and the second there were 16 months, we also played AFCON.”
“Who is responsible? It’s clear. My staff is responsible, the coaching staff is responsible, the player is responsible, and SAFA administration is responsible.”
South Africa haven’t qualified for the FIFA World Cup since they hosted the tournament in 2010. That painful absence continues to motivate both players and fans alike. Despite the setback, Bafana Bafana still have two crucial fixtures to turn the tide.
Their next challenge? A high-stakes showdown against Zimbabwe, followed by a must-win clash with Rwanda — both matches that will determine whether the dream stays alive.
Mistakes have been made — Broos and his team acknowledge that. But the belief remains unshaken. With a passionate squad and a tactically sharp head coach at the helm, South Africa’s road to the 2026 World Cup is still open — just a bit more dramatic than expected.
Can Bafana Bafana rise to the occasion? The next 180 minutes will tell.
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