Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie is happy that Bafana Bafana have managed to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations but that is just half of his demands.
In September, the government official revealed he told Danny Jordaan-led Safa to ensure the National Team qualify for the next Africa Cup of Nations and World Cup or get out of office.
McKenzie said he had already informed Safa president that Bafana Bafana can't miss out on either of the tournaments and he has to ensure the team achieves qualification or else he will have to leave and allow someone else to sort it out.
What McKenzie had told Safa
“I have full confidence in rugby because the result is there for us to see. The result is not there with soccer or hockey. I am not a man that gets overpowered or gets impressed with words, I like action,” McKenzie said.
“I told Dr Danny Jordaan and I told SAFA, I will give you two deliverables. I am the ultimate accounting authority when it comes to football and sports in this country.
“I said to them [SAFA] qualify for the World Cup, qualify for the Africa Nations Cup. I am giving them all the support now but I can’t give people support until kingdom comes. These things are not even difficult.”
What have Bafana achieved
On Tuesday, Bafana Bafana beat South Sudan to finish top of Group K of the 2025 World Cup qualifiers.
They qualified alongside Uganda who finished second on the table making Broos the first-ever Bafana coach to take the country to Afcon two times in a row. However, McKenzie wants more.
“When I met SAFA I was very clear that for our continued support, we demand Bafana Bafana to qualify for the Afcon 2026 Fifa World Cup. I wanna congratulate the leadership & players for jumping over the first hurdle, one more to go. I am very proud. Our football is back, thank you,” he wrote on his X account.
Bafana Bafana will continue their 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifier in March. They are currently placed second in Group C with seven points, the same with leaders Rwanda.
