South Africa’s Bafana Bafana can still aim for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, according to head coach Hugo Broos, even after FIFA deducted three points from their campaign.
The deduction came after South Africa fielded Teboho Mokoena, deemed ineligible, in their Group C fixture against Lesotho in March.
As a result, FIFA awarded Lesotho a 3-0 victory, dropping Bafana Bafana from first to second place in the group with 14 points.
Benin Republic, also on 14 points, now lead the group, while Nigeria’s Super Eagles and Rwanda trail with 11 points each.
Addressing the situation on Thursday while announcing his squad for upcoming qualifiers against Zimbabwe and Rwanda, Broos remained optimistic.
“I know everything that happened in the last two weeks, but we’re still alive. There is nothing changed, after the game against Nigeria we were three points ahead. We still had to win our last two games. Why believe Benin will win their last two games and we not. I don’t understand why people start doubting, and say we can’t qualify anymore.”
The Belgian coach also called for accountability but emphasized moving forward, “People have to stop now to look for who is responsible, we all know he made a mistake. But between the first match and the second there were 16 months, we also played AFCON. Who is responsible, it’s clear. My staff is responsible, the coaching staff is responsible, the player is responsible and SAFA administration is responsible,” Broos concluded.
Bafana Bafana last featured at a FIFA World Cup when South Africa hosted the tournament in 2010.
