The Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) has officially opened disciplinary proceedings 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.
FIFA, the world’s football governing body, in a letter to the South African football authority, dated September 15, 2025, confirmed that both the player and the association face charges of breaching several disciplinary regulations, including the fielding of an ineligible player.
The case has been referred to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, with SAFA and Mokoena given six days to submit their response.
If found guilty, South Africa could be forced to forfeit the result of the match, which would hand Lesotho a 3–0 victory on paper, while other sanctions such as fines or suspensions could also be imposed.
Should a forfeit be handed down by FIFA, the Bafana Bafana team will find themselves level on points with Benin (14) after eight matches, but remain top with a superior goal difference of +6 to the Cheetahs’ +4.
The punishment will see Lesotho 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 will have to beat Zimbabwe and Rwanda in their final two qualifiers in October, provided Benin do not slip up against The Wasps and the Super Eagles, who will have to win both of their remaining matches and hope Bafana Bafana slip up in either or both of their fixtures.