Video: Teboho Mokoena breaks silence on yellow card saga that almost cost Bafana Bafana World Cup ticket as he admits to 'the toughest six months of my career'

Teboho Mokoena has been a key player and a consistent one for Bafana Bafana across all competitions.

His commitment and zeal saw him get two yellow cards in the initial Group C matches of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Surprisingly, he featured against Lesotho in March, leading to FIFA sanctions that put the country's World Cup chances in jeopardy. 

It got worse for Mzansi when they drew 0-0 with Zimbabwe on matchday nine, which piled more pressure on the team.

However, a win over Rwanda with Benin's defeat to Nigeria gave Hugo Broos' side the ticket to play in the World Cup for the first time since 2010. 

It was a relief for Mokoena, who has now opened up about how the situation affected him.

"People were blaming me because of the two yellow cards, the toughest six months of my career," Mokoena opened up.

 "I was not allowed to speak about it, I was going through a lot. I was not okay."

It could have been a shame if Bafana Bafana had failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup due to a reckless mistake.

SAFA should ensure it doesn't happen again, and for the players, it is a reminder that it is vital to be aware of their status, especially in big games, since it might have a negative impact on the country.