SA football faces leadership crisis ahead of World Cup and AFCON

AS SOUTH African football celebrates a momentous year, marked by a return to the Fifa World Cup and qualification for the Africa Cup of Nations, deeper issues threaten to overshadow progress on the field.

- HERMAN GIBBS

Under the stewardship of coach Hugo Broos, the nation’s hopes of advancing to the knockout stage for the first time in World Cup history have taken centre stage. Yet, the shadow of instability within Safa looms large, as financial and leadership crises continue to plague the organisation.

One key incident that has aggravated tensions was Fifa’s sanction of a points deduction, following a yellow-card blunder involving Teboho Mokoena. This sanction came at a precarious time, leaving fans and analysts alike questioning Safa’s leadership and their ability to represent South African football effectively.

In light of these pressures, the response from Minister of Sport Gayton McKenzie was particularly noteworthy. Initially furious over an administrative error that threatened to derail Bafana’s World Cup preparations, McKenzie has since adopted a more tempered approach. At the core of this crisis stands Safa president Danny Jordaan, who has faced intense scrutiny since his arrest on alleged fraud charges in November 2023.