SAFA need World Cup qualification to fix financial crisis – Jomo Sono

Former South Africa head coach, Ephraim Matsilele Sono (Jomo Sono) says the Football Association will need World Cup qualification to fix their financial crisis.

The Bafana Bafana face an uphill task to secure qualification to the biggest soccer mundial to be staged in the USA, Canada and Mexico, following FIFA sanction.

South Africa are now second in Group C after being declared losers in their game against Lesotho back in March 2025 despite their 2-1 win.

Hugo Broos’ side were docked three goals and three goals for fielding an unqualified player, Teboho Mokoena despite being suspended due to yellow cards accumulation.

South Africa have their destiny in their own hands and must approach the final two games with all seriousness.

The Bafana Bafana will play host to Zimbabwe on October 10 in Johannesburg before traveling to Kigali for the final round of games, four days later.

However, Sono has highlighted it would be highly costly if Bafana fail to qualify for the showpiece.

“SAFA needs the World Cup money because, from what we read in the papers, they are bankrupt,” Sono told KickOff.

“They desperately require this money. When I worked for SAFA as the Bafana Bafana coach, I earned R50,000,” Sono added. “Even back then, it felt like peanuts, but there wasn’t much I could do about it…

“I chose to prioritize my country because many people sacrificed their lives fighting for it. I wasn’t overly concerned about money. SAFA truly needs this World Cup funding,” Sono concluded.

The Bafana Bafana face Zimbabwe on 10 October in Durban and Rwanda on 14 October in Mbombela.