Confirmed: Bafana vs. Zimbabwe WC Qualifier Moved To Moses Mabhida
The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has officially confirmed that its penultimate FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Bafana Bafana will be held at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban next month.
Sportswire had previously reported that the Durban venue was the front-runner to host the match after the South Africa Football Association (SAFA) expressed its concerns to FIFA about playing the game in Botswana.
Initially, the Botswana Football Association and ZIFA had reportedly agreed to play the qualifier in Francistown on 10 October. However, this presented an issue.
The same venue was scheduled to host a match between Botswana and Uganda on 9 October, which would have meant that both Bafana Bafana and Zimbabwe would not be able to train there on the eve of their match.
FIFA rules state that a visiting team must have access to the stadium for a training session the day before a match. If the game had proceeded in Botswana, both teams would have only had a feel of the pitch on match day.
Recognizing the importance of this match for Bafana Bafana’s World Cup qualification bid, SAFA formally complained to FIFA. In response, FIFA ruled in SAFA’s favor, stating that the scheduling conflict could not be allowed.
SAFA had previously allowed a similar situation to occur. In a World Cup qualifier against Benin in March, Bafana Bafana were forced to train at a local school in Ivory Coast instead of the match venue, Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny, which was hosting a game the day before.
Despite this, Bafana Bafana still won the match 2-0. This time, however, SAFA was firm in its stance.
Bafana Bafana is currently at the top of Group C with 17 points after eight matches, three points ahead of Benin. However, SAFA is under investigation by FIFA for allegedly fielding an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, during their qualifier win against Lesotho in March.
Mokoena had accumulated two yellow cards, which should have resulted in a one-match suspension. If Bafana Bafana were to be docked points and a 3-0 win awarded to Lesotho, Benin would take the top spot in the group.
However, Sportswire has been informed that Bafana Bafana is likely to receive a fine from FIFA, and no points will be deducted.
Following the match against Zimbabwe at Moses Mabhida Stadium, Bafana Bafana will conclude their World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda at Mbombela Stadium.
In the African qualifiers, only the group winners automatically qualify for the FIFA World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the USA. The four best-placed runners-up will have a second chance via a play-off round.
