South African sports journalist Velile Mnyandu has criticised FIFA’s decision to deduct three points from Bafana Bafana in the World Cup qualifiers, describing the ruling as harsh and damaging to the team’s progress.
The punishment was handed down after irregularities involving midfielder Tebogo Mokoena, and it saw South Africa displaced from the top of their group, giving Nigeria and Benin Republic fresh opportunities.
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Mnyandu, however, argued that the ruling overlooked the effort the team had put into securing their results. “The players and the technical crew worked extremely hard to reach the top of the group, only for it to be taken away by an administrative issue,” he said. “This decision is very painful for South Africa.”
He added that there is frustration across the country over what many perceive as injustice. “The nation is not happy with this ruling. It feels like we are being punished too severely for something that could have been handled differently. This setback has undone months of preparation.”
Despite the disappointment, Mnyandu maintained that Bafana Bafana are still capable of mounting a comeback in the group. “Yes, we are no longer top, but the race is not over. Benin Republic are leading now, but their away record is poor. That gives us a chance to climb back if we can win our games.”
He urged South Africans to rally behind the team during this difficult moment. “This is when the players need support the most. The road is tougher now, but it is not impossible. If the team keeps fighting, we can still qualify.”
The deduction has reshaped the qualification battle, leaving South Africa, Nigeria, and Benin Republic in a tight race for top spot.
