{"id":27389,"date":"2025-09-05T11:35:13","date_gmt":"2025-09-05T09:35:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/?p=27389"},"modified":"2026-03-12T09:54:19","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T07:54:19","slug":"bafana-bafana-world-cup-dream-in-jeopardy-over-mokoena-suspension","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/bafana-bafana-world-cup-dream-in-jeopardy-over-mokoena-suspension\/","title":{"rendered":"Bafana Bafana World Cup Dream in Jeopardy Over Mokoena Suspension"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Bafana Bafana head into their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Lesotho in Bloemfontein under a cloud of controversy. South Africa top Group C with 13 points, five ahead of Rwanda, and aim to return to the World Cup for the first time since 2010.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The clash at Toyota Stadium has been overshadowed by Lesotho\u2019s complaints about Teboho Mokoena. In the 2-0 win at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium earlier this year, the midfielder featured despite carrying two yellow cards. Lesotho argue he was ineligible and warn South Africa risk losing points if FIFA enforces its rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-lesotho-vow-to-protest\">Lesotho Vow to Protest<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Lesotho Football Association (LeFA) secretary-general Mokhosi Mohapi made his stance clear. On the eve of the match, he warned that Lesotho would play under protest if Mokoena appeared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Lesotho FA Official: If Bafana Dare Play Teboho Mokoena... | SAFA Warned! | EP 425\" width=\"755\" height=\"425\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/1yODjLh2M5g?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cYes, we are going to protest,\u201d Mohapi told reporters. \u201cTeboho should start serving his suspension. Don\u2019t prolong it. Or else, it will be an animal farm, and we don\u2019t want that.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>According to Mohapi, FIFA\u2019s disciplinary code is unambiguous: if an ineligible player features, the match is forfeited 3-0. He insisted Mokoena never sat out against Lesotho, which should have been the suspension match. \u201cIf we allow people to pick and choose where they want to serve suspensions, football will go into disarray,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"SG of Lesotho FA Mokhosi\u00a0Mohapi says they are going to play under protest against Bafana Bafana.\" width=\"755\" height=\"425\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/k7O_Ks0Akyw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-1291520981\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-broos-snaps-at-press-conference\">Broos Snaps at Press Conference<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Head coach Hugo Broos bristled when asked about the threats. The Belgian snapped at reporters:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cBefore you go any further, I am not used to commenting on nonsense, so I will not start today.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Instead of engaging in the row, Broos has stayed focused on qualification. His message remains simple: win the game and move closer to securing a World Cup place in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Bafana coach Hugo Broos and captain Ronwen Williams ahead of World Cup qualifier against Lesotho. \" width=\"755\" height=\"425\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/a3uCc0iPaGo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-s-at-stake-for-south-africa\">What\u2019s at Stake for South Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The dispute could carry major consequences. Should FIFA award Lesotho a 3-0 victory, South Africa would lose three points. That outcome would force them to win all remaining matches to guarantee qualification.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite the risks, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.safa.net\/bafana-bafana\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Bafana<\/a> remain well placed in Group C. Strong squad depth and good form give them the edge, although an administrative ruling could undo their progress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">As things stand in Group C ahead of Bafana Bafana&#39;s FIFA World Cup qualifier against Lesotho at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein on Friday.<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/BafanaPride?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#BafanaPride<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SABC_Sport?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">@SABC_Sport<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/vcGQwhL7tq\">pic.twitter.com\/vcGQwhL7tq<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BafanaBafana\/status\/1963529465515937980?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">September 4, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-1380147746\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-a-test-of-discipline-on-and-off-the-pitch\">A Test of Discipline On and Off the Pitch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This saga shows that football requires discipline off the pitch as much as on it. Administrative errors threaten to overshadow South Africa\u2019s control in matches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lesotho, however, demand equal treatment. Their officials argue that smaller nations deserve the same enforcement of FIFA rules as heavyweights like Nigeria or South Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For Bafana fans, the takeaway is clear: the team must win games and avoid distractions that could derail their World Cup dream.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Check also: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/bafana-bafana-squad-named-for-world-cup-qualifiers\/\">Bafana Bafana Squad Named for World Cup Qualifiers Against Lesotho and Nigeria<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>South Africa are favourites against Lesotho, but the off-field storm could shape their road to 2026. Will FIFA enforce its laws, or will Broos\u2019 men keep their focus on football?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>What do you think, is Lesotho right to push for action, or is this nothing more than a sideshow in Bafana\u2019s World Cup journey?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Bafana Bafana head into their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Lesotho in Bloemfontein under a cloud of controversy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":27399,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_focus_keyword":"","rank_math_title":"","rank_math_description":"Bafana Bafana head into their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Lesotho in Bloemfontein under a cloud of controversy.","footnotes":""},"categories":[59,56,64],"tags":[286,11097,11118,11108],"class_list":{"0":"post-27389","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-soccer","8":"category-sports","9":"category-sports-news","10":"tag-bafana-bafana","11":"tag-fifa-world-cup","12":"tag-latest-football-news","13":"tag-latest-sports-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27389","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27389"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27389\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27403,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27389\/revisions\/27403"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27399"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27389"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27389"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27389"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}