Reports from South Africa indicate that Bafana Bafana supporters are unhappy with FIFA’s decision to deduct points from their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign following the use of ineligible player Tebogo Mokoena.
Speaking to Brila.net, South African journalist Velile Mnyandu explained that the players and technical crew had worked hard to secure a strong position in the group, only to be displaced from the top after the ruling.
“The people are very angry, and understandably so, because our boys had worked very hard, together with the technical team, to get us into this favourable position,” Mnyandu said.
“When the communication came from FIFA, it was something most of us who report on the game had expected, because the rules are very clear. You Nigerians would also know better, because back in 2018 you were in a similar situation, but fortunately, you had already accumulated enough points.”
He admitted that the deduction has left South Africa in a difficult situation but insisted their qualification hopes remain alive.
Also read: 2026 FIFA WCQ: Zimbabwe Handed Blow Ahead of Bafana Bafana Clash
“We’ve been displaced from the top, but the positive thing is that we are playing our last two matches against Zimbabwe and Rwanda at home. Benin Republic still have to travel to Rwanda and Nigeria, and if you look at their away record, it’s not really a positive one,” he added.
South Africa will now need to target maximum points from their remaining fixtures to secure an automatic place at the World Cup.
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