By JOHANNESBURG — Global football leadership has thrown its weight behind the South African Football Association following a decisive electoral outcome in Midrand. FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Confederation of African Football President Dr. Patrice Motsepe placed congratulatory calls to Dr. Danny Jordaan following his resounding re-election as SAFA President.
Dr. Jordaan secured 157 votes to comfortably outdistance challenger Sandile Zungu, who garnered 82 votes during Saturday’s elective congress. The high-stakes gathering unfolded under the rigorous observation of international and continental governing bodies, including FIFA, CAF, COSAFA, and SASCO, alongside key domestic stakeholders such as the Premier Soccer League and celebrated football legends.
Infantino and Dr. Motsepe extended warm remarks not only to the returning president but also to the newly elected members of the executive committee.
Reflecting on the mandate, Dr. Jordaan emphasized that the incoming administration will aggressively channel its efforts toward fulfilling Vision 2030, building directly upon the foundational milestones achieved over the preceding four years.
Central to this progress has been a monumental shift in officiating standards. Highlighting the transformation in local refereeing, Dr. Jordaan noted that every single women’s football match is now officiated by women, a breakthrough that extends prominently into the elite professional ranks of the Premier Soccer League. South African female match officials are now regular fixtures on continental and global stages, including the World Cup, AFCON, and WAFCON.
On the pitch, the national teams have experienced a notable upward trajectory across multiple age brackets. Banyana Banyana stands proudly as the second-ranked team on the African continent, while Bafana Bafana holds the tenth position. Youth development continues to yield elite dividends, highlighted by the under-20 squad reigning as African champions and the under-17 side featuring on the global stage at the World Cup in Qatar.
With the electoral chapter concluded, the newly minted leadership faces an immediate, packed operational calendar. Attention shifts rapidly to the upcoming CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations COSAFA Qualifier in Mozambique, high-stakes 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Guinea and Eritrea for Bafana Bafana, and the ongoing trajectory of the South Africa Under-23s.
Furthermore, the association must navigate participation in the inaugural FIFA Under-15 World Cup in Azerbaijan, the FIFAe World Cup, continuous coaching education initiatives, and the sustained growth of the Hollywoodbets Super League.
