‘It was the toughest six months of my career’: Teboho Mokoena opens up on the blunder that haunted Bafana’s World Cup dream
Relief: Bafana Bafana midfielder Teboho Mokoena has finally addressed the saga that nearly derailed their World Cup qualification campaign. Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
Image: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
Bafana Bafana have booked their place in the 2026 World Cup, and midfielder Teboho Mokoena has breathed a huge sigh of relief.
The 28-year-old Mamelodi Sundowns star was at the centre of a saga that threatened to derail Bafana’s qualification campaign.
After picking up two yellow cards in their opening qualifiers, Mokoena played against Lesotho in March when he should have been serving a suspension. After a protracted ordeal, Bafana Bafana’s 2-0 win over their neighbours was overturned into a 3-0 loss, and the team had three points deducted.
Bafana also surrendered top spot in Group C to Benin.
As a result, going onto the final matchday of qualifiers, Bafana’s qualification hopes hinged entirely on other results. Fortunately, Nigeria did Hugo Broos’ men a massive favour when they played Benin off the park, winning 4-0.
Coupled with Bafana’s 3-0 win over Rwanda, Mokoena and co booked their place in America.
Speaking to kwaito star Arthur Mafokate on TikTok, Mokoena revealed his delight and relief after securing qualification.
“I’m very happy [to have qualified for the World Cup]. It was an emotional day, I could feel it,” said the Bafana and Sundowns star.
“I think we must give credit to the coach. He has been so calm the whole week after we drew against Zimbabwe. And honestly, it has been the toughest six months of my career.
“The backlash my family and I received was very hard. Yes, because of the yellow cards people were blaming me, and I couldn’t speak about it. I was going through a lot, I was not okay but I’m happy now.”
While the saga is now in the past for Mokoena, sports minister Gayton McKenzie has insisted that they would be holding the South African Football Association accountable.
“We can’t leave this matter unattended. What have we learned from this?” the minister wrote on his official X account on Thursday. “We are a country with rules, and Brand SA was hurt tremendously by this blunder. No matter is closed – it’s opening now.”
It remains to be seen what McKenzie and his department can do as government interference in the affairs of a national football association is strictly forbidden by FIFA and is viewed as a serious violation of the organisation's statutes.
FIFA's principle of non-interference demands that its member associations, like SAFA, manage their affairs independently and without the influence of third parties, which explicitly includes the government.
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