CONTROVERSY-attracting Bafana Bafana team manager Vincent Tseka and sport minister Gayton McKenzie during the FIFA World Cup 2026 South Africa Homecoming at OR Tambo International Airport on Thursday.
Image: BackpagePix
SAFA president Danny Jordaan has defended the association’s handling of Bafana Bafana’s World Cup visa complications amid questions over whether administrative repercussions should follow the pre-tournament travel uncertainty.
South Africa’s buildup to the FIFA World Cup came under scrutiny after delays surrounding travel documentation threatened to disrupt preparations ahead of the opening match in Mexico.
But Jordaan rejected suggestions that the issue was unique to SAFA or caused by internal failures.
“Well, the issues relating to visas as a team departed were not only for South Africa,” Jordaan said when asked whether there would be repercussions from an administrative standpoint, especially regarding team manager Vincent Tseka.
“Many countries had problems with visas.”
The SAFA president insisted that despite the uncertainty, the association ultimately ensured that the full delegation arrived in time for proper preparations before the competition officially began.
“Ultimately, even before the team got into training, we had all of the people there in Pachuca, in Mexico,” he explained.
“So there was no problem.”
The comments come after a World Cup campaign that evolved dramatically for Bafana Bafana.
Following a difficult opening defeat against Mexico, Hugo Broos’ side recovered impressively, growing into the tournament with stronger performances against Czechia and South Korea before reaching the knockout stages for the first time in South African football history.
That achievement has complicated criticism around SAFA’s preparations, as the team ultimately produced one of the country’s most successful World Cup campaigns despite the off-field uncertainty.
Still, Jordaan acknowledged that visa processes remain unpredictable and largely beyond the federation’s control.
“I don’t know what to expect in the future, but we’ll obviously have to deal with the unpredictability of issuing visas, particularly of one country,” he said.
“And there’s nothing we can do about giving visas or not giving visas. It’s not on our authority.”
While debate around accountability may continue internally, Jordaan’s position is clear: the administrative challenges did not ultimately derail the national team’s preparations.
“But finally, the team prepared well and performed well.”
And after a tournament where Bafana made history on the field, SAFA will argue that the football outcome ultimately speaks louder than the logistical turbulence surrounding the journey.