Bafana Bafana handed unlikely Afcon boost? Here is how they can end up in Cameroon next year! 

Bafana Bafana could be on hand to receive an unlikely boost to their previously non-existent hopes of participating at the 2022 Afcon. 

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The competition is set to take place in January from the 9th to the 6th of February in Cameroon, with Bafana Bafana initially failing to qualify. 

Bafana Bafana failed with initial qualification

Bafana Bafana headed into their last group game, needing to earn just a point away to South Sudan in order to qualify for the Afcon. However, the South Africans failed in their attempts, and ended up losing the game 2-0. Since then the country had been licking its wounds and had come to accept that they will not be seeing Hugo Broos’ men doing battle in his former stomping ground. 

Bafana Bafana may have an AFCON lifeline

However, according to recent reports the Zimbabwean national team appear to be at risk of missing out of the tournament completely, which could spell good news for Bafana Bafana. This comes after the Zimbabwean Sports and Recreations’ decision to suspend the Zimbabwe FA (ZIFA). Those news have since caught the attention of world football governing body FIFA, who have then issued a stern warning stating that Zimbabwe have up until the third of January to re-instate the members of the ZIFA board, with failure to do so, leading to a possible Global football ban. 

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Speaking to soccer24.co.zw. last month SRC’s Chairman Gerald Mlotshwa said that they’re fully aware of the possible consequence of the decision they have made. 

Zimbabwe aware of the consequences

”If Fifa decides to ban Zimbabwean football, we are prepared. We have planned for that. If that happens, we look at it as being a short-term measure. I think Zimbabwean football needs this space and this opportunity to fix itself. A FIFA ban has been on the cards since the day we opened our mouths to say we are suspending the Zifa board,” he was quoted as saying this week.

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“FIFA statutes oblige them to sanction a board that has been interfered with. The position is that FIFA is FIFA, let them do whatever they consider is proper. FIFA know what we are doing and nothing will come as a surprise to them.” Mlotshwa continued.

Possible SA entry?

Should Zimbabwe be banned on the 3rd of January, it will mean they won’t be able to compete at the Afcon. This then presents two possible outcomes. CAF could either replace them with the best third place finisher in the group stages, which would be Bafana Bafana, or the team that finished below them in their group which is Zambia.

All eyes on the 3rd of January then for all including Bafana Bafana supporters.