The South African Football Association has apologised to their countrymen over the administrative lapse that could jeopardise their chances of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico, while the country’s sports minister, Gayton McKenzie has probed the body for their incompetence, according to the PUNCH reports.
South Africa were hit with a three-point deduction by FIFA on Monday, six months after they fielded an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, during a Group C qualification match against Lesotho.
Mokoena was supposed to be suspended, having picked up two yellow cards previously in the group stages.
They won the game 2-0, but the result was overturned and Lesotho were awarded a 3-0 win.
Although they have launched an appeal, the punishment cuts South Africa’s tally from 17 points to 14 points, dropping them to the second position in the table, while Benin Republic topple them as group leaders on goal difference.
With two games to go in the series, SAFA remains confident that Bafana Bafana can still qualify for the World Cup.
“The Association emphasises its continued commitment to supporting Bafana Bafana in their qualification campaign,” continued the SAFA statement.
