The time is now for Bafana Bafana to put admin blunders behind them and let the football do the talking
Bafana Bafana must overcome a FIFA administrative error that docked them points and goals by winning their upcoming matches against Zimbabwe and Rwanda with superior score lines to secure a spot in the 2026 World Cup, as they currently trail Benin in Group C. Picture: BackpagePix
Image: BackpagePix
Much has been made of the administrative error which saw Bafana Bafana docked three points and five goals in the Fifa World Cup qualifying campaign, and rightly so.
Though the SA Football Association (Safa) has appealed the decision, Bafana need to proceed under the assumption the Fifa ruling is final.
As it stands, South Africa are second behind Benin in Group C. Both sides have 14 points, but Bafana’s goal difference is one behind that of Benin’s four. Only the top side in each group automatically qualifies for next year’s Fifa World Cup.
It means with the final two qualifier matches coming up over the next week, if Benin win both their matches, Bafana will have to not only win their remaining clashes but with better score lines.
South Africa’s Crucial Matches Against Zimbabwe and Rwanda: A Path to World Cup Qualification
South Africa take on Zimbabwe on Friday at Moses Mabhida Stadium, before hosting Rwanda four days later at Mbombela Stadium.
Meanwhile, Benin travel to Rwanda on Friday before they’re on the road again to Nigeria on October 14.
South Africa undoubtedly have the two easier remaining fixtures, but assuming Bafana will collect two victories is easier said than done.
All Bafana coach Hugo Broos can do now is do everything in their power to ensure they have the best chance of winning their next matches and win them well.
The reason, of course, for Bafana being penalised by Fifa is that Teboho Mokoena played in a World Cup qualifier match against Lesotho in March even though he had been suspended.
Somehow, nobody in Bafana or Safa picked up the clerical error and now the fate of South Africa’s qualification is no longer completely in their own hands.
Hopefully for SA fans, South Africa can still qualify for a World Cup for the first time since 2002 (they qualified automatically as hosts in 2010), they’ve certainly done all they can on the field to book that elusive ticket.
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