SAFA faces fresh bonus dispute as CHAN players await R100,000 payouts

The South African Football Association (SAFA) is once again embroiled in a financial dispute, as players who represented the nation at the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN) tournament claim they are still owed approximately R100,000 each in performance bonuses.

The dispute stems from a contract reportedly signed in August, which stipulated a fixed, performance-based bonus dependent on the team’s group-stage finish, moving away from the standard per-match fee structure (R60,000 for a win).

Sources close to the squad allege that despite Bafana Bafana finishing third in their group—a position that supposedly triggered the agreed-upon payout—the promised funds remain outstanding three months later. South Africa’s results included wins over Guinea and draws against hosts Uganda, Algeria, and Niger.

Shifting Deadlines and Inconsistent Payments By SAFA

Player frustration is reportedly high due to poor communication from SAFA, characterised by constantly shifting payment deadlines.

“There was communication saying they were still waiting for CAF [Confederation of African Football] to pay,” a source revealed to FARPost. “They confirmed two weeks ago that they were processing payments… Now they’re saying they’ll pay in January.”

The matter is compounded by claims of inconsistent payment of daily allowances during the tournament, with some players receiving their full allowance, while others received partial or no payment at all. This latest rift adds to SAFA’s history of public disagreements over match fees and bonuses for both the men’s and women’s national teams.