SAFA maintains focus on six points as FIFA investigation looms
19th September 2025
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SAFA CEO Lydia Monyepao says, despite FIFA's investigation over Bafana Bafana midfielder Teboho Mokoena's eligibility, the focus remains on winning their final two World Cup qualifiers next month.
SABC Sport broke the news on Thursday that FIFA had officially opened an investigation into Mokoena’s appearance in a 2-0 win over Lesotho back in March while under suspension.
A guilty verdict could see the result overturned to a 3-0 win in favour of Lesotho, with three points deducted from Bafana’s tally, but Monyepao maintains their fate remains in their own hands.
"Look, we have received confirmation from FIFA that they are investigating the matter, which is something we've been waiting for for a very long time, so it's now on the table and we are preparing our defence for that," said Monyepao.
"We need to be reverting to FIFA in the next couple of days, so all our attention is on that and we've got attorneys that have already been appointed to help us as well.
"So we are not really focussed on that, I think for us it's a matter of ensuring we get maximum points come October, so that the team can qualify no matter what happens as far as this [case] is concerned.
"It's a matter of ensuring that we get maximum points and the team qualifies for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and the country can be happy."
A three-point deduction would see South Africa drop to second on 14 points, level with Benin but behind on goal difference, but Monyepao insists the two matches against Zimbabwe away and Rwanda at home remains paramount to their qualification hopes.
"I think for us, it's about the focus. When I spoke to coach Hugo Broos, it's about ensuring we get maximum points come October, and anything else is noise to us," she added.
"Teboho, Nigeria, whatever, it's noise to us. For us it's about ensuring that the team remains focussed and we get the points come October.
"Because no matter what happens, whether FIFA docks the points or FIFA give us [a fine], whatever happens, we need to ensure that we are going to USA, and we really need the country to back us come October so that we can push the team to get maximum points."
