WORLD football governing body FIFA has officially opened disciplinary proceedings against the South African Football Association (SAFA) and Bafana Bafana midfielder Teboho Mokoena, according to reports from South Africa.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria have a keen interest in the case as the outcome will have an effect on the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign.
Mokoena was fielded while under suspension in 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.
In a letter to SAFA dated September 15 2025, as reported by SABC, FIFA 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, Bafana Bafana 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 point deduction be handed down by the FIFA disciplinary committee, South Africa 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 Super Eagles would then be with three points of Bafana Bafana, with two rounds of games left in African qualifying Group C.
Lesotho, meanwhile, will find their tally rise 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.
South Africa will have to beat Zimbabwe and Rwanda in their final two qualifiers in October, provided Benin do not slip up against Rwanda and the Super Eagles, who will have to win both of their remaining matches and hope Bafana slip up in either or both of their fixtures.
Only one team from the group will qualify automatically for the 2026 World Cup in the United States of America, Mexico and Canada.