Benni McCarthy dives into Bafana Bafana's Teboho Mokoena saga that led to FIFA sanctions & put South Africa's World Cup hopes in jeorpady - 'Heads have to fly'

Bafana Bafana fielded suspended Teboho Mokoena against Lesotho in Group C's 2026 World Cup qualifier played in March.

Having accumulated two yellow cards in the initial games, the 27-year-old Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder was not supposed to feature.  

The Hugo Broos-led team won the match 2-0, but teams in the pool, especially Nigeria, Lesotho, and Benin, had been calling for action. 

FIFA, finally, cracked the whip on SAFA a couple of days ago, docking them three points in favour of Lesotho, who were also handed a 3-0 win.

South Africa are now in a tricky situation ahead of their forthcoming games against Zimbabwe and Rwanda, respectively.

They need to win the two games and hope that Benin, who are currently on top of the group with 14 points, the same as Bafana Bafana, but with a superior goal difference, slip. 

Mzansi legend Benni McCarthy is irked by the fact that no one picked Mokoena's suspension. He has now called for action, demanding that those who slept on the job be fired if the country fails to qualify for the global competition. 

“People responsible must pay the hefty price because South Africa haven't qualified since the Japan and Korea co-hosting in 2002," he told Soccernet, excluding the 2010 competition where the country took part by virtue of hosting it.

"That was the last time we qualified. I am not saying they aren't going through, but football is a funny game.
“If these two games don't go accordingly and we are knocked out because of incompetence, then heads have to fly, as simple as that," he concluded.  

This is a massive test of character not only to the coach and players, but the fans, who should support the team to the top.

The only advantage is that Nigeria and Benin will face each other in the last round of the qualifiers, which might work to Mzansi's advantage.