SAFA is reportedly embroiled in a fresh dispute over unpaid bonuses, with players who represented Bafana Bafana at the 2025 CHAN tournament still waiting approximately R100,000 each in outstanding payments three months later.
The rift emerges as players accuse SAFA of reneging on an August agreement outlining performance-based bonuses. According to sources close to the players, a contract was signed with SAFA before the tournament. This agreement stipulated a fixed bonus based on the team’s final group-stage position, moving away from a traditional per-match payment structure.
Typically, Bafana players receive R60,000 for a win, R30,000 for a draw, and nothing for a loss. However, in tournaments, their compensation is negotiated with the association based on how far they advance, making it a performance-based arrangement.
South Africa finished third in their group after wins over Guinea and draws against hosts Uganda, Algeria, and Niger. Despite achieving the position that triggered the agreed-upon payment, players say the funds have not been forthcoming.
SAFA SHIFTING PAYMENT DEADLINES FOR CHAN BONUSES
Frustration is mounting over what is described as poor communication and constantly shifting payment deadlines. “An agreement was signed with the players before the tournament. There was communication to the team and the coach [Molefi Ntseki] saying they were still waiting for CAF [Confederation of African Football] to pay. They confirmed two weeks ago that they were processing payments and that they would be cleared in a week. Now they’re saying they’ll pay in January,” a source told FARPost.
Compounding the issue is the inconsistent payment of daily allowances during the tournament, with sources claiming some players received their full allowance, others only half, and a segment received nothing at all.
It was also noted that the players received no bonus for qualifying for the CHAN tournament. They received only their standard allowances for those matches. This latest bonus dispute adds to a series of financial challenges that have plagued SAFA in recent years, often leading to public disagreements with players from both the men’s and women’s national teams over outstanding match fees and bonuses.
Efforts to obtain a comment from SAFA were unsuccessful as the association did not reply to the enquiry.
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