South Africa’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 Fifa World Cup have taken a major hit after Fifa sanctioned Safa for fielding an ineligible player.
The Fifa Disciplinary Committee ruled that midfielder Teboho Mokoena should not have featured in Bafana Bafana’s preliminary competition match against Lesotho in March 2025.
The decision found Safa in breach of article 19 of the Fifa Disciplinary Code and article 14 of the competition’s regulations. As a consequence, the match has been forfeited by South Africa, with FIFA awarding Lesotho a 3-0 victory.
The ruling significantly damages Bafana’s qualifying campaign, reducing their points tally and boosting their neighbours in Group C on the World Cup qualifying table.
In addition, Safa has been ordered to pay a fine of around R200 000, while Mokoena has been issued with a warning.
“The Fifa Disciplinary Committee has sanctioned Safa for having fielded an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, in the South Africa v Lesotho match played on 21 March 2025 in the Fifa World Cup 2026 preliminary competition,” FIFA said in a statement.
The disciplinary body confirmed that Safa and the parties involved have ten days to request a motivated decision, which would later be published on Fifa’s legal website.
The ruling remains subject to appeal before the Fifa Appeal Committee. The punishment has also shifted the balance in Group C of the World Cup Qualifiers.
Originally top with 17 points, South Africa now drops to 14 points after the forfeiture, drawing level with Benin. Nigeria sits close behind on 11 points after eight matches.
With only the group winners guaranteed a place in North America 2026, the setback could prove decisive in Bafana’s upcoming game against Zimbabwe and Rwanda.
