Fans View: SAFA Can’t Renew Le Coq

South African football fans have been taking to social media to complain about Le Coq Sportif's poor attention to detail with Bafana Bafana's kits.

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What's the story?

After Bafana Bafana got off to a winning start in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, fans have taken to social media to complain about SAFA's technical sponsor, Le Coq Sportif.

Fans spotted during Bafana's win over Benin that some of player's numbers weren't in the same font, raising questions over the French sportswear brand's suitability for Bafana and Banyana.

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Let's take a closer...

Is Le Coq Sportif the right brand for SAFA?

When South Africa Football Association partnered with Le Coq Sportif back in 2020, plenty of questions were raised by fans over the quality of the brand and if they could match up to the quality of Nike.

The fans' relationship with Le Coq Sportif didn't get off to the best start after former Bafana head coach Molefi Ntseki and his technical team appeared to be wear an old Nike-sponsored kit, instead of Le Coq Sportif gear, in a friendly against Zambia in an international friendly at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium.

Read: WATCH: How Banyana's 'History Maker Jersey' Was Made 

Supporters on social media were left confused by Ntseki's technical team wearing tracksuits covered in part with black tape, to hide the Nike logo after SAFA parted ways with the popular brand in 2019, announcing their partnership with Le Coq Sportif a week before that friendly against Zambia.

The first set of merchandise released by Le Coq wasn't warmly received by most fans, including Steve Komphela, who took to Twitter/X to criticise Le Coq Sportif, saying that their designs made the national team difficult to watch.

The French brand then asked members of the public last year to submit designs after they were heavily criticised for the design of Banyana and Bafana's jerseys.

In November 2022, after a long voting process driven on Twitter/X, they announced Lwazi Ngcungama as the winning designer of men's and women's national team jerseys for the 2023/24 season.

Although Ngcungama's initial designs were tweaked to fit SAFA and FIFA's rules, the fans are still mostly happy with the national team kits. 

When Bafana overcame Benin, 2-1, at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday, a few supporters pointed out the different number fonts on the back of the players' jerseys.

This invited more criticism for Le Coq Sportif, with many calling for a new sponsor and slamming the poor attention to detail. 

Scroll through the gallery to see snaps of Bafana Bafana during their win over Benin in Durban:

Fans have been taking to social media to complain about Le Coq Sportif's poor attention to detail with Bafana Bafana's kits.Photo by Darren Stewart/Gallo Images

Fans have been taking to social media to complain about Le Coq Sportif's poor attention to detail with Bafana Bafana's kits.Photo by Darren Stewart/Gallo Images

Fans have been taking to social media to complain about Le Coq Sportif's poor attention to detail with Bafana Bafana's kits.Photo by Darren Stewart/Gallo Images

Fans have been taking to social media to complain about Le Coq Sportif's poor attention to detail with Bafana Bafana's kits.Photo by Darren Stewart/Gallo Images

Fans have been taking to social media to complain about Le Coq Sportif's poor attention to detail with Bafana Bafana's kits.Photo by Darren Stewart/Gallo Images

Have your say... 

Should SAFA renew their five-year deal with Le Coq Sportif?

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