Africa-Press – Mauritius. FIFA has handed South Africa a major blow in their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign after sanctioning the Bafana Bafana for fielding an ineligible player against Lesotho.
Midfielder Teboho Mokoena was featured in the March 21, 2025, matchday five clash, which South Africa initially won 2-0.
However, FIFA on Monday overturned the result, awarding Lesotho a 3-0 victory as punishment.
“The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has sanctioned the South African Football Association (SAFA) for having fielded an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, in the South Africa v. Lesotho match played on 21 March 2025 in the FIFA World Cup 2026TM preliminary competition, thereby breaching article 19 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC) and article 14 of the FIFA World Cup 2026TM Preliminary Competition Regulations,” FIFA announced in its ruling.
In addition to forfeiting the game, SAFA has been fined CHF 10,000, while Mokoena himself received a formal warning.
The development has reshaped the Group C standings.
The Squirrels of Benin Republic now lead with 14 points from eight games, edging South Africa into second place on the same points tally but with an inferior goal difference.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles follow closely in third with 11 points, keeping the group wide open as the qualifiers progress.
The sanction could prove decisive in what has become one of Africa’s tightest World Cup qualifying groups.
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