SAFA President Danny Jordaan Addresses Teboho Mokoena Yellow Card Controversy After World Cup Qualification

South African Football Association (SAFA) president Danny Jordaan has finally spoken out on the Teboho Mokoena yellow card controversy, following Bafana Bafana’s successful qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The issue arose after Mokoena was fielded in a March qualifier against Lesotho despite being suspended due to accumulated yellow cards. As a result, SAFA was initially hit with a three-point deduction, and Lesotho was awarded a 3-0 victory. Bafana had originally won the match 2-0, but the deduction temporarily saw Benin overtake South Africa in Group C, threatening the team’s World Cup hopes.

Speaking to the media at OR Tambo International Airport after the team returned from Mbombela on Wednesday, Jordaan downplayed the controversy in light of the qualification. “We are going to the World Cup, so the matter is closed. We are not interested in this issue; we’ve qualified for the World Cup, and that is where we are headed,” he said, as reported on SABC News.

South Africa will join other CAF representatives in the USA, Mexico, and Canada next year. While the mistake raised questions about accountability within SAFA’s technical team and management, an internal investigation was reportedly launched to determine responsibility for failing to spot Mokoena’s suspension.

Fans and analysts were expecting clarity on who was at fault and how SAFA plans to prevent similar incidents in future campaigns. However, Jordaan’s current focus remains on celebrating Bafana Bafana’s qualification and preparing for the tournament.

Despite the controversy, South African football has reason to celebrate, with the national team set to compete on the world stage for the first time since 2002. The Mokoena incident may remain a point of discussion, but Jordaan’s comments signal that SAFA is prioritizing the positives as attention turns to America 2026.