The Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) has penalized South Africa for using an ineligible player in their match against Lesotho.
The decision comes two weeks after FIFA launched an investigation against the South African Football Association (SAFA) for fielding a suspended player, Teboho Mokoena, during a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier, which South Africa won 2–0 against Lesotho on March 21 in Polokwane.
The 28-year-old midfielder had accumulated two yellow cards earlier in the qualifiers, first against Benin in November 2023 and then against Zimbabwe in June 2024, which, under FIFA rules, triggered a one-match ban.
As a result, the match has been forfeited, and Lesotho has been awarded 3 goals and 3 points.
Additionally, the South African Football Association (SAFA) has been fined CHF 10,000, and Mokoena has received a warning.
The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has sanctioned the country for breaching article 19 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC) and article 14 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Preliminary Competition Regulations.
“The parties were notified of the terms of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee’s decision today. In accordance with the relevant provisions of the FDC, they have ten days in which to request a motivated decision, which, if requested, would subsequently be published on legal.fifa.com. The forfeiture decision remains subject to a potential appeal before the FIFA Appeal Committee,” a statement seen by Business Post said.
Pending an appeal, Lesotho has been bumped up from six points to nine, but will remain in fifth position, two points behind third-placed Nigeria and fourth-placed Rwanda on 11 points each.
Nigeria, whose hope of qualification, was dashed following a series of draws, will now be hoping for a sliver of opportunity to avoid missing another World Cup, having missed the 2022 edition in Qatar.
South Africa now have to beat Zimbabwe and Rwanda in their final two qualifiers in October, provided Benin do not slip up against Rwanda and Nigeria, who will have to win both of their remaining matches and hope Bafana Bafana slip up in either or both of their fixtures.