CAF President Patrice Motsepe has commented on the letter of apology sent by South Africa’s Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, to FIFA following Bafana Bafana’s recent points deduction in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Bafana were docked three points for fielding midfielder Teboho Mokoena during a qualifier against Lesotho in March, despite him being suspended for that match. The mistake almost cost South Africa a place at next year’s World Cup, though the national team managed to finish top of Group C, one point ahead of Nigeria.
The sanction prompted Minister McKenzie to send a letter to FIFA on October 16, 2025, expressing regret over the administrative lapse and calling for accountability within the South African Football Association (SAFA). His letter, however, contrasts sharply with SAFA president Danny Jordaan’s stance, who insisted that the matter was closed. 
While McKenzie’s apology drew mixed reactions across South Africa, with some praising his transparency and others warning it could be viewed as political interference, CAF president Motsepe weighed in on the issue during an event organised by the South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) in Johannesburg on Friday.
Motsepe said he believes governments and football bodies must operate within clearly defined limits. “All of the countries on the continent understand the role and partnerships with government and the sovereignty of every nation,” he said. “Football does not interfere with those sovereign matters of the country. The issues that relate to football are that the government does not interfere.”
He added that he trusts Minister McKenzie’s communication with FIFA would have respected FIFA’s rules and that any potential concerns would likely be resolved through dialogue to ensure those boundaries remain intact.
