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Bafana Bafana’s head coach, Hugo Broos, has shared that he feels “down” following FIFA’s ruling to deduct three points from South Africa for fielding ineligible midfielder Teboho Mokoena during the World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho in March.
This decision has resulted in FIFA awarding Lesotho a 3-0 victory, causing South Africa to forfeit the points they originally secured. The ruling has dramatically altered the landscape of Group C in the African World Cup qualifiers, propelling Benin to the top of the standings based on goal difference, while South Africa has slipped from the top position.
Broos Refuses to Place Blame
In light of the unfortunate development, Broos insists that no single person should bear the responsibility for the oversight, which he credits to the lengthy gap between matches.
“I felt down for about an hour, but then I reminded myself that we must move on. At this stage, nobody should be blamed. His first yellow card was against Benin in November when the qualifiers began, and the subsequent one was against Zimbabwe,” Broos explained.
The coach underscored the necessity of concentrating on the important matches that lie ahead.
Critical Matches on the Horizon for Bafana Bafana
South Africa is now facing a pivotal stage in their qualification campaign. They will take on Zimbabwe at Moses Mabhida Stadium on 10 October, followed by a clash with Rwanda at Mbombela Stadium just four days later.
Broos confirmed that his latest team selection was made with a sense of urgency underlining the current situation.
“This is the reality we are confronting. We must give it everything; we have no alternative. It’s uncertain whether Benin can win both of their next matches, so we need to keep pushing,” Broos declared.
Pathway to Qualification for Bafana
In the CAF 2026 World Cup qualifiers, only the group winners automatically secure a place in the World Cup, which will be hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the USA. The four best runners-up will enter a playoff for another chance at qualification.
