Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos is not losing sleep about the impact Fifa’s final decision on Teboho Mokoena will have on Bafana Bafana’s qualification for the 2026 Fifa World Cup.
Having accumulated two yellow cards, the Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder was ineligible to play in Bafana’s 2-0 World Cup qualifier victory against Lesotho in Polokwane in March. But Safa administration failed to pick that up.
Lesotho were also not aware of his ineligibility and lodged the protest long after the stipulated 24 hours of the match’s conclusion — which makes Broos optimistic that Fifa may not punish Bafana. “I think we’ll be making a very big step then to qualify for the World Cup. But even if they take those three points out, why should we panic?
“If you look at our last six games in World Cup qualifiers, why should we start panicking now? We have to believe in ourselves and in our performances of the past. It will be tougher, but we still have to believe in ourselves. We have to wait,” said Broos.
But even if Bafana were to be stripped of the three points they earned against Lesotho, they still look like they could qualify comfortably, Broos believes. After six games, Bafana lead group C on 13 points, five ahead of Rwanda and Benin. Nigeria are fourth on seven points.
You see, things are happening behind the scenes and I think it’s coming from our friends in Nigeria.
— Hugo Broos, Bafana Bafana coach
“There’s nothing to worry about because there was no complaint. I know that five days after the game Lesotho wanted to [lodge] a complaint. I think they were put under pressure by Nigeria. Let’s hope Fifa is doing what they have to do by saying there’s no complaint and it remains like this,” Broos said.
“We are five and six points ahead of our two rivals, Rwanda and Nigeria. That is a very comfortable situation if you have to play only four games. If we win against Lesotho in our first game in September, we’re still at least five or six points ahead with nine points to go.”
Broos further highlighted the desperation of the Super Eagles to catch up with Bafana, claiming they are even urging Zimbabwe not to play Bafana in South Africa — which Zimbabwe and Lesotho have been doing to host their home matches as they don’t have facilities approved by Fifa.
“Now we’re not sure whether Zimbabwe will play against us here in South Africa. They’re trying to have a good stadium in Zimbabwe. But maybe if it’s not ready they will be told to go and play us in Rwanda. You see, things are happening behind the scenes and I think it’s coming from our friends in Nigeria.”
Bafana will play two friendlies against Tanzania (June 6) and Mozambique (June 10), but Sundowns players will not feature as they will start focusing on their appearance at the expanded Fifa Club World Cup in the US later this month.
Broos said the two friendlies form part of Bafana’s preparation for the last four World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho (away) and Nigeria (home) in September, Zimbabwe (away) and Rwanda (home) in October.
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