Bafana Bafana finally touch down in Mexico after visa controversy!
The crisis forced Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie to intervene.
SEDIBENG.- Bafana Bafana have finally touched down in Mexico for the Fifa World Cup 2026 following a chaotic delay that left the national team grounded.
The squad and technical staff were originally scheduled to jet out of South Africa on Sunday. However, a major issue securing visas prevented them from leaving on time. The administrative blunder caused widespread outrage, leaving the South African Football Association (SAFA) facing heavy criticism from the public and political leaders alike.
The crisis forced Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie to intervene, demanding urgent answers from SAFA during a heated, closed-door meeting between government officials and football bosses. Sources describe the encounter as a high-stakes showdown, but the confrontation ended on a positive note with ‘hugs and kisses’ once a solution was found.
Thanks to the governments’ intervention…
Thanks to the emergency government intervention, the necessary travel documents were fast-tracked, allowing the team to finally depart yesterday.
This is not the first time SAFA has found itself at the centre of a scandal. The association previously cost Bafana Bafana three vital points after Fifa punished them for fielding a suspended player. That administrative failure was swept under the carpet, and no disciplinary action was taken against the team manager responsible for the oversight.
SA face Mexico in their first game
On the field, Hugo Broos and his team face a massive task as they prepare to open their world cup campaign against tournament co-hosts Mexico on June 11. South Africans will remember the last time these two nations met on the world stage, when Siphiwe Tshabalala scored a legendary opening goal in a 1-1 draw at the FNB Stadium.
The national team will need to dig deep and significantly improve their performance if they hope to beat the hosts. Confidence took a knock last Friday after Bafana Bafana played out a disappointing goalless draw against underdogs Nicaragua in a send-off friendly match at the Orlando Amstel Arena, formerly known as Orlando Stadium.
