Businessman and AmaZulu FC chairman Sandile Zungu has confirmed he will challenge Danny Jordaan for the presidency of the South African Football Association (SAFA) at the body’s elective congress in September 2026.
The confirmation comes after Bafana Bafana’s FIFA World Cup Round of 32 defeat to Canada, which renewed scrutiny of the South African football’s administration.
Zungu will contest the election with the backing of the Save Our SAFA (SOS) lobby group.
Incumbent Danny Jordaan will seek a fourth term with support from the Football Transformation Forum (FTF).
Sandile Zungu accepts SAFA presidency nomination
Zungu confirmed he had accepted the nomination after months of engagement with football leaders from SAFA’s regional structures.
Speaking to Newzroom Afrika, he said he took time to consider the request before agreeing to contest the election.
“Indeed I have agreed. I was approached and the people who approached me from the regions of SAFA were very persistent over a long time.
“Quite frankly I had to consult those in the know just to ascertain that this challenge is worth pursuing and raising my hand for.
“Indeed I came back to them quite firmly and said thank you for trusting me and having confidence in me — and said I am indeed entering the ring and I’ll give it my best shot.”
His confirmation ends months of speculation after he previously said his immediate focus remained on AmaZulu FC while he assessed whether to enter the race.
SAFA election sets up contest between rival lobby groups
The September elective congress will decide who leads South African football for the next four years.
Zungu has centred his campaign on improving corporate governance, financial management and commercial sustainability. He has identified those areas, together with stronger accountability, as priorities should delegates elect him president.
Jordaan will campaign yet again with the support of the Football Transformation Forum. The association is responsible for governing football in South Africa, including the country’s national teams and affiliated football structures.
Governance expected to dominate the SAFA campaign
Corporate governance, financial management and accountability are expected to feature prominently during the campaign.
Zungu has already identified those areas as priorities should he be elected president.
Jordaan has led SAFA since 2013. During his tenure, the association has faced criticism over governance and several high-profile disputes, including the dismissal of former Bafana Bafana coach Ephraim “Shakes” Mashaba after their public fallout in 2016.
The former Bafana coach is currently battling prostate cancer and tuberculosis. Read more in our report on Mashaba’s health battle and his family’s appeal.
SAFA also faced criticism after Bafana Bafana’s World Cup visa delays threatened to disrupt the team’s departure ti Mexico.
September vote will decide SAFA’s next leadership
The September elective congress will determine whether Jordaan secures a fourth term or whether Zungu becomes the next SAFA president.
Zungu enters the race with experience in business and football administration through AmaZulu FC. He also chairs Sizekhaya Holdings, which secured South Africa’s R180 billion National Lottery licence under an eight-year operator agreement.
Jordaan will once again have the backing of the FTF, an internal political lobby and power bloc within SAFA that has rallied regional support for his previous leadership campaigns.
The group has faced criticism from some football administrators and former SAFA officials, who argue that it has deepened divisions within the association, prioritised political self-preservation over football development, and concentrated influence among a small group of aligned members.
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