BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

The investigation into Teboho Mokoena’s eligibility stems from FIFA’s strict rules on player suspensions and disciplinary carry-overs between matches.

Mokoena, a key midfielder for Bafana Bafana, was reportedly cautioned in earlier qualifiers, raising questions about whether he should have been suspended for the Lesotho game. If a player accumulates two yellow cards in different matches during the same competition, FIFA regulations stipulate an automatic one-match ban.

FIFA Rules at a Glance

• Two yellow cards in separate games = automatic suspension for the next match.
• A red card = automatic suspension, pending further sanctions.
• Any team that fields an ineligible or suspended player risks forfeiting the match, usually by a 3–0 scoreline.

Lesotho lodged a complaint after the game, insisting that Mokoena should not have featured. Even without the official complaint, South Africa would still have had case to answer as it happened in the Algeria-Nigeria World Cup qualifying match in which Algeria did not even protest.

FIFA has since acknowledged the protest and opened a case file.

For SAFA, the stakes are high. A points deduction or forfeiture could dent South Africa’s 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign, depending on how tight Group standings become. This Saturday is the deadline for South Africa to state their case on why an ineligble player was fielded.

However, SAFA CEO Lydia Monyepao insists that even in a worst-case scenario, Bafana Bafana’s path remains in their own hands if they secure victories in the upcoming October qualifiers.

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BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

The clock is ticking fast to the six-day ultimatum that FIFA gave to the South African Football Association (SAFA) to respond to the country’s fielding of an ineligible player in a World Cup qualifying match against Lesotho in March.

SAFA has till this Saturday to file their defense.

South Africa’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign could face a major twist if FIFA upholds a complaint that may see Bafana Bafana docked three points for allegedly fielding an ineligible player.

Hugo Broos’ side currently sit three points clear at the top of Group C after eight rounds of matches, holding a strong advantage over their rivals. Third-placed Nigeria trail by six points, while Benin are second and pushing hard to keep qualification hopes alive.

A potential three-point deduction would drastically alter the group standings, bringing South Africa level with Benin. While Bafana hold the head-to-head edge after defeating the West Africans home and away, the ruling could pile pressure on Broos’ men heading into their final fixtures.

South Africa are scheduled to face Zimbabwe and Rwanda in October, matches that could now prove decisive if the disciplinary ruling narrows their margin at the top of the log.

For now, SAFA insists it is not worried about the investigation, but the looming threat of lost points means every remaining game could make or break Bafana Bafana’s journey to the USA, Mexico and Canada in 2026.

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Current Group C Standings (after 8 games)

Projected Standings (if South Africa docked 3 points)

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South Africa will face disciplinary proceedings for fielding a suspended player in a World Cup qualifier in March, which will likely see them docked points and put their hopes of advancing to next year’s finals in jeopardy.

World football’s governing body FIFA this week informed the South African Football Association that it was opening proceedings due to the fielding of midfielder Teboho Mokoena in their 2-0 win over Lesotho, officials have confirmed.

Mokoena should not have played because he had already collected two cautions in the qualifiers and had to sit out the game with an automatic one-match suspension.

South Africa admitted they had made an error, but FIFA’s delay in opening disciplinary proceedings led to months of speculation in the country that they had gotten away with it, including from coach Hugo Broos.

There was also criticism of FIFA’s slowness in resolving the issue from other countries battling for top place in South Africa’s group.

FIFA’s disciplinary code says: “If a team fields a player who is not eligible to participate (due to suspension, registration issues, nationality, etc.), the match is automatically forfeited.

The default result is a 3-0 loss, unless the actual result was even more disadvantageous to the offending team.”

A three-point deduction would leave South Africa level with Benin on 14 points at the top of Group C with two qualifiers each left, with Nigeria and Rwanda only three points back.

Only the group winners automatically advance to the finals in North America that start next June. The last two rounds of matches are played next month with South Africa away to Zimbabwe and home to Rwanda while Benin finish away at Rwanda and Nigeria.

It will not be the first time a country has been docked points for fielding an ineligible player in African World Cup qualification.

In the 2018 qualifiers, FIFA awarded Algeria a 3–0 win as a result of Nigeria fielding the ineligible Shehu Abdullahi, after their match ended in a 1–1 draw.

Abdullahi failed to serve a one-game ban after receiving two yellow cards in the qualifying competition, but Nigeria still finished top of the group and qualified for the finals in Russia.

Ahead of the 2014 finals in Brazil, the Cape Verde Islands lost out on a playoff spot after using Fernando Varela in their shock group win against Tunisia. He was still suspended, so Tunisia went through to the playoffs instead of the islanders.

-Reuters

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