Bafana Bafana touched down their base in Mexico ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup trailing behind them though is a whole bag of drama.
The South Africa MNT farewell to the fans before their departure to North America was not plain sailing.
On and off the field, Bafana Bafana had to endure the unexpected delay with the issuance of travel documents.
As if that was not enough, on he field the team’s final match at home – which held at the Orlando Stadium – against Nicaragua will be remembered by an even bigger embarrassment.
The Drama
During the tune up match, which ended goalless, Hugo Broos’ side had 12 players (11 outfields and 1 goalkeeper) on the pitch at some point.
The oversight happened in the second-half of the match. Defender, Nkosinathi Sibisi was subbed on for Ime Okon, but the latter did not realize he had been pulled and so continued to play.
While the infraction went unnoticed; even by the match officials, for at least over 5 seconds, it was Sibisi who would later notify his teammate to leave the pitch.
Former FIFA referee and television analyst Victor Hlungwani was the eagle-eye who amplified the incident.
During his appearance on SABC show, SportsZone, Hlungwani called out the officials.
🚨Soccer Zone | South Africa maybe be disqualified by FIFA or Docked Points on their FIFA rankings | 12 players on the field how did this happen?
Bafana Bafan played with 12 players during the Nicaragua game which raises concerns on how did SAFA allowed this to happen.
Who is… pic.twitter.com/EUopDRx6Us
— MrksPSLClub (@MrksPSLClub) June 1, 2026
Meanwhile, the issue has generate concerns among Bafana Bafana who fear the consequence of such an offence.
Under the Laws of the Game, if a team is found to have an extra player on the field, play should be stopped immediately, the offending player shown a yellow card and ordered off the pitch. Any goal scored while the extra player was involved can also be disallowed.
Beyond the on-field sanctions, FIFA takes a particularly hard stance when it comes to international matches. A national team found guilty of fielding 12 players can be forced to forfeit the match, with the opposition awarded a 3-0 win.
The national association could also be hit with hefty financial penalties, while team officials responsible for substitutions and match administration may face suspensions.
In the meantime, Bafana Bafana will continue preparation for the World Cup ahead of their opening game against co-host Mexico on June 11 in Group A.
