South Africa's football team, Bafana Bafana,is facing travel troubles ahead of the World Cup due to visa issues. Reports say an "administrative bungle" has left some players without the visas they need for their trip to Mexico.
Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie is frustrated. He’s calling for accountability from the South African Football Association (Safa). "I need a report and action must be taken against those responsible for this mess," he said, adding that the country looks foolish. McKenzie also slammed the visa problems as "embarrassing & grossly unfair towards the players & coaching staff" in a post on X.
The team was set to leave for Mexico on Sunday for a friendly against Jamaica on Friday. This match is important before they face Mexico in the World Cup opener on June 11 . Co-hosted by United States and Canada,the tournament features South Africa among 10 African nations in the expanded 48-team event .
Before this, Bafana Bafana played disappointing home match against Nicaragua,finishing in a 0-0 draw that included a missed penalty. That result stretched their winless streak to four games. Concerns about their readiness for the World Cup are growing.
While the team deals with these visa problems,Safa has not yet responded publicly . Pressure is building on the association and the government as South Africa looks to make an impact in this prestigious tournament after last competing in 2010 when they hosted the finals.
