SAFA president declares ‘Mokoena matter is closed,’ dodging accountability

The administrative dark cloud that shadowed Bafana Bafana’s successful 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification has been summarily dismissed by SAFA president Danny Jordaan, who insists the organisation is ready to move past the Teboho Mokoena yellow card saga.

In the wake of Bafana Bafana’s triumphant 3-0 victory over Rwanda—a result, coupled with a crucial Nigeria win over Benin, that secured South Africa’s first World Cup spot since 2002—Jordaan offered a surprisingly curt final statement on the controversy. His pronouncement effectively shuts down growing public demands for accountability over the near-catastrophic error.

The Shadow of ‘Mokoena-gate’

South Africa’s journey to the top of Group C, culminating in 18 points, was complicated by a disciplinary failure at the South African Football Association (SAFA) headquarters. The association was famously docked three vital points by FIFA for fielding Mamelodi Sundowns star Teboho Mokoena in a qualifier against Lesotho when he should have been serving a suspension for accumulated yellow cards.

This administrative oversight sparked widespread outrage across the country. Fans and analysts alike called for harsh consequences for the officials responsible, arguing that the error demonstrated a fundamental failure of governance that could have easily derailed the national team’s qualification hopes.

SAFA President Jordaan Shifts Focus

With the World Cup ticket now punched, Jordaan has effectively granted SAFA a clean slate, choosing to pivot dramatically toward future tournaments rather than dwell on past blunders.

“We are going to the World Cup. So the matter is closed, we are not interested in the matter, we’ve qualified,” Jordaan stated, signalling that further internal action is highly unlikely.

The SAFA president emphasised that the organisation’s attention is now solely on upcoming international challenges. “So we’re not going to dwell on what is behind us because what is in front of us is the World Cup, African Cup of Nations [AFCON]. The coach [Hugo Broos] must have told you that we are now focusing on the next point, which is the African Cup of Nations in Morocco and then the World Cup.”

While the national mood is undoubtedly euphoric following the qualification—achieved through an impressive closing effort, featuring goals from Orlando Pirates talents like Thalente Mbatha, Oswin Appollis, and Evidence Makgopa—Jordaan’s swift closure of the Mokoena file is likely to be met with scepticism.

The failure to publicly identify or sanction the officials responsible for the oversight of the suspension raises serious questions about SAFA’s commitment to administrative rigour. For many, the declaration that “the matter is closed” simply translates to accountability denied, using the high of World Cup qualification as a convenient shield against necessary internal review.

As Bafana Bafana prepares for Morocco and the global stage, the organisation’s management structure—and its ability to learn from its near-fatal mistakes—remains under intense scrutiny, regardless of the president’s final word.