Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos ahead of their Benin clash. Fingers will be pointed at SAFA and CAF officials for overlooking the fact that midfielder Teboho Mokoena was not eligible to take the field against Lesotho in the previous 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying game.
Image: Backpagepix
IT’S a fact, some of the most unifying moments enjoyed by South Africans were delivered by the country’s sports men and women scoring epic results on sports fields, post democracy.
Who could forget the euphoria we felt when marathon runner Josiah Thugwane landed gold at the Atlanta Olympics and Penny Heyns’ double-gold, at the same event, in two breaststroke events.
There have been other athletes, every now and then, who would have got the nation's sense of patriotism running wild with their outstanding achievements in various codes of sport.
Arguably, our Springbok rugby teams have been the big-hitters in delivering those gees moments with their four World Cup winning performances, with the latest being the back-to-back successes (2019 and 2023) from captain Siya Kolsi and his supreme soldiers.
Away from those highs, the Proteas cricketers have had glory within touching distance on a few occasions, but they somehow contrived ways to drop those prized catches.
The big prize in world football, FIFA's Jules Rimet trophy.
Image: REUTERS/Crack Palinggi (INDONESIA - Tags: SPORT SOCCER)
Football is well and truly our national sport. While we humbly accept that we have never been real contenders to lift FIFA’s top prize, the Jules Rimet trophy, since democracy, however, we would have loved to have been at every tournament since making our debut at France1998.
Each time we qualified for FIFA World Cup tournaments (France, South Korea and Japan in 2002 and as hosts in 2010) national pride levels hit all-time highs, by and large Bafana Bafana had our affection.
Boy did Siphiwe Tshabalala get our hearts pumping when he struck his wonder-goal in the 55th minute against Mexico, in the opening match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup played at Johannesburg's FNB Stadium.
Cape Town - 130108 - South African player Simphiwe Tshabalala dribbles around Bjorn Helge Riise of Norway during the international friendly football / soccer match between South Africa ( Bafana Bafana ) and Norway which was held at Cape Town Stadium in Green Point in Cape Town. The friendly serves as a warm up match for South Africa ahead of their African Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign. Final Score: South Africa 0 - 1 Norway - Photo: Matthew Jordaan Simphiwe Tshabalala on the dribble around Bjorn Helge Riise of Norway during his Bafana Bafana playing days.
Image: Photo: Matthew Jordaan
It's been long and hard years for our beloved national team after the emotional highs of the 2010 tournament. Instead of rising on FIFA's rankings table with more inspired performances, Bafana Bafana have been proper minnows with their continuous inept showings.
But ever since Hugo Broos took over as coach in May 2021 and got the team singing from his hymn sheet, Bafana progressed appreciably and even landed an AFCON bronze medal in 2023.
There has been growing belief that Broos’s Boys could do even better in this year's AFCON event scheduled for December.
True to form, the team has been all the rage in their qualifying group for the 2026 FIFA World Cup tourney to be hosted jointly by USA, Mexico and Canada.
With Tuesday night’s win against Benin, they have secured a 5 point lead at the top of the standings, with four qualifying games remaining.
Lo and behold, Bafana’s management and backroom staff were widely accused for overlooking one of the rudimentary rules of the competition along the way.
It's to do with the midfielder Teboho Mokoena playing in Friday’s win against Lesotho when he should have sat out, because of the number of yellow cards he received in previous international matches.
However, it has also emerged that CAF officials on duty at the Bafana versus Lesotho game at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Limpopo, as part of their vetting duties, were also supposed to have raised the alarm that Mokoena was not eligible to play.
It’s best to say that such errors are almost unheard of at the highest levels of the game.
How could this happen?
FIFA could throw their rule book at SAFA for the gaffe and even dock points, which could severely dent Bafana’s hopes of playing in next year’s World Cup tournament.
Lesotho has lodged an objection and Nigeria, also in Bafana's group, are waiting with mouths wide-open for points to be docked from the group leader's tally.
What a deflating outcome that would be for South Africans, given all the political woes we are dealing with right now including the high cost of living.
It's just inconceivable, especially since FIFA World Cups are always four-years apart and the likelihood that Broos might no longer be the hatchet man working wonders with the team because the 72-year-old Belgian could call time on his career or greener pastures might be his calling.
Presently, Bafana are firing and are on an amazing 18-match winning streak, their home matches are usually sold out affairs, which means South Africans are invested in the team, and we have a pretty good chance to make next year's World Cup tournament.
Bafana Bafana's Teboho Mokoena.
Image: Backpagepix
Which brings us painfully back to the decisive FIFA 2022 World Cup qualifying match against Ghana, where Bafana Bafana only needed a draw to progress to the next stage.
A penalty was awarded to the Ghanaians, playing at their home venue in Cape Coast, they converted the opportunity and held on for a 1-0 win.
The penalty was the subject of much controversy. SAFA complained bitterly and raised their disapproval with FIFA.
FIFA found there was no substance in SAFA's query, the result stood and Bafana Bafana were kicked out.
Will we receive a favourable bounce from FIFA this time around when they analyse the SAFA's/CAF's Teboho Mokoena yellow card blunder?
The nation anxiously awaits the outcome.
*Mervyn Naidoo is the Content Manager at Daily News' Content Manager.
His views don't necessarily reflect those of the Daily News, Independent Media or IOL
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