The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has officially opened disciplinary proceedings against South Africa for fielding an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, during their 2026 World Cup qualifying match against Lesotho in March.
In a letter dated September 15, 2025, addressed to the South African Football Association (SAFA), FIFA confirmed that both the player and the association face charges for breaching several disciplinary regulations, including the use of an ineligible player. The matter has been referred to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, with SAFA and Mokoena given six days to submit their response.
The 28-year-old midfielder had accumulated two yellow cards in previous qualifiers—first against Benin in November 2023 and then against Zimbabwe in June 2024—which, under FIFA rules, triggered a one-match ban. By playing him against Lesotho, South Africa has violated these regulations.
If found guilty, Bafana Bafana could be forced to forfeit the match, granting Lesotho a 3–0 victory on paper, alongside other potential sanctions such as fines or suspensions.
Currently, South Africa leads Group C with 17 points, but a points deduction would see them level with Benin Republic (14 points) and reduce the gap between them and Nigeria to just three points, keeping the race for an automatic qualification spot open with two games remaining. Lesotho’s points tally would increase from six to nine, yet they would remain in fifth place, two points behind third-placed Nigeria and fourth-placed Rwanda, both on 11 points.
South Africa is scheduled to face Zimbabwe and Rwanda in their final qualifiers in October, while Nigeria will play Lesotho away and Benin Republic, hoping South Africa slips in one or both of their remaining matches.
This disciplinary action follows a recent similar case involving Equatorial Guinea, who were sanctioned for fielding an ineligible player, Emilio Nsue, during the qualifiers—a decision upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS).
Despite the unfolding case, Nigerian football fans on social media remain skeptical about the Super Eagles’ ability to capitalize on South Africa’s potential punishment and turn the situation to their advantage.
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