Lesotho FA boss celebrates Bafana Bafana's points deduction, but vows 'I will buy their shirt and support them' if South Africa qualify for 2026 FIFA World Cup and responds to Hugo Broos' nonsense' statement

Lesotho Football Association Secretary General Mokhosi Mohapi has vowed to support Bafana Bafana should South Africa qualify for the 2026 World Cup finals.

Bafana were close to booking a return ticket to the global showpiece, but their dreams were dealt a heavy blow when the FIFA Disciplinary Committee reduced their points by three.  

South Africa were punished by the Zurich-based football governing body for fielding Teboho Mokoena in a World Cup qualifier against Lesotho back in March.

“If Bafana eventually make it as the group winners, I will buy their shirt and support them at the World Cup because they would have earned their place," Mohapi told Sowetan Live.

"Mr [Hugo] Broos should know I was not talking nonsense when I said SA has a case to answer. I now feel fulfilled. Fifa has done well to respect its own regulations,” Mohapi, who also feels relieved after Broos' statement, added.

The Lesotho FA top official explained their pursuit of the case against the Mamelodi Sundowns star was not a matter of a witch hunt but one of demanding the application of FIFA rules.   

“We had always maintained that our pursuit of this case had nothing to do with South Africa. Lesotho is a bona fide member of FIFA, and we played the rightful role to ensure the football rules are respected. We are happy to have been vindicated," Mohapi stated.

“We would have loved to have played the last matches earlier this month, with the case finalised already. We would have approached the games differently, knowing we had nine points. But the group is now interesting because four of the five teams all have a chance going into the last matches,” Mohapi said.

The punishment from FIFA saw Broos' side drop to the second position and are now on equal points with Benin, whose superior goal difference places them at the top of Group C.

Initially, Bafana were enjoying a three-point advantage, but the Mokoena case put them on tenterhooks as the country kept waiting on how FIFA would eventually rule.

Despite the suspension case hovering over Mokoena and Bafana in general, Broos adamantly fielded the experienced midfielder again when South Africa played Lesotho in September.  

After being punished for violations of Article 19 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code and Article 14 of the competition’s regulations, Bafana face uphill tasks in their next games.

Given that Benin are top because of goal difference, the former African champions must win convincingly in order to boost their chance of automatic qualification.

Bafana will host Zimbabwe at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on 10 October 2025, and Rwanda at Mbombela Stadium on 14 October. After the FIFA ruling, these games now carry higher stakes than ever before.