South Africaâs hopes of reaching the 2026 FIFA World Cup have suffered a major setback after FIFA docked them three points for fielding an ineligible player in their qualifier against Lesotho.
FIFAâs disciplinary committee ruled that midfielder Teboho Mokoena should not have featured in South Africaâs 2-0 win over Lesotho in March, as he was suspended after receiving two cautions in earlier Group C matches.
As a result, Lesotho have been awarded a 3-0 victory, while South Africa were fined 10,000 Swiss Francs ($12,536). Mokoena was also handed a warning.
The decision means Benin now top Group C on goal difference, level with South Africa on 14 points, with Nigeria and Rwanda trailing just three points behind. Only the group winners qualify directly for the World Cup, while the runners-up face a difficult playoff route.
Upcoming Fixtures â Group C (October)
- Benin vs Rwanda
- Lesotho vs Nigeria
- South Africa vs Zimbabwe
The final round on October 14 will see South Africa host Rwanda, while Benin travel to Nigeria in what could be a decisive clash.
Embarrassment for South Africa
The ruling has been described as a major embarrassment for the South African Football Association (SAFA). Coach Hugo Broos admitted the mistake:
âWe did something bad, we did something we shouldnât do.â
However, FIFA has also been criticized for taking nearly seven months to resolve the issue. Benin coach Gernot Rohr expressed frustration, saying it was ânot normalâ that teams went into the last qualifiers without clarity on the standings.
This is not the first time African teams have faced sanctions over ineligible players. In 2018, Nigeria were penalized for fielding Shehu Abdullahi, while Cape Verde lost a playoff spot in 2014 after using Fernando Varela while suspended
