South Africa government urges fans to unite behind Bafana Bafana amid FIFA sanctions

The South African government has called on fans to rally behind the national men's football team, Bafana Bafana, following a points deduction imposed by FIFA.Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, expressed disappointment over the sanction, describing it as an embarrassment and deeply regrettable.The points deduction was a result of the team fielding an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Lesotho. The South African Football Association was also fined 9,000 Pounds Sterling.Despite the setback, McKenzie remains optimistic about the team's qualification chances. This deduction is but a bump in the road, and we believe that we remain firmly on track for qualification; our belief in the team's ability to succeed is unshaken, he said.The government will conduct a thorough investigation into the incident. The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) will lead a thorough investigation into the incompetence that led to this sanction. We are committed to uncovering the root causes of this failure and ensuring accountability, McKenzie said.In the meantime, McKenzie urged South Africans to unite in support of Bafana Bafana. For now, we urge all South Africans to unite in support of Bafana Bafana. Let us get behind our boys in these critical games. Together, we can and must carry them on our shoulders to the USA, Canada and Mexico in 2026, he said. Read Full Story