South Africa’s bid to qualify for the 2026 Fifa World Cup has been dealt a serious setback after the national team was sanctioned for fielding an ineligible player.
Midfielder Teboho Mokoena featured in Bafana Bafana’s 2-0 victory over Lesotho in March despite being suspended, having accumulated two yellow cards in earlier qualifiers.
Following a review, Fifa’s disciplinary committee ruled that South Africa had breached competition regulations. The outcome is a 3-0 forfeit awarded to Lesotho, while the South African Football Association (Safa) has been fined 10,000 Swiss Francs ($12,500; £9,340). Mokoena, 28, has also been issued with a formal warning.
The ruling significantly alters the standings in Group C of African qualifying. South Africa, who had led the table by three points, now drop to second place on 14 points, behind Benin on goal difference. Lesotho, meanwhile, benefit from the three points gained.
The decision leaves the group finely poised, with Nigeria and Rwanda just three points adrift of the leaders and still in contention for the sole automatic qualification spot for next year’s tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
The final round of matches promises to be decisive: Benin will travel to face Rwanda and Nigeria between 10–14 October, while South Africa take on Zimbabwe away before hosting Rwanda.
Safa has been given 10 days to appeal Fifa’s ruling.
