The FIFA disciplinary committee has deducted three points off South Africa for using an ineligible player in the World Cup qualification series.
South Africa fielded midfielder Teboho Mokeona against Lesotho on 21 March 2025 having received two consecutive yellow cards in the previous matches, thereby breaching article 19 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC) and article 14 of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Preliminary Competition Regulations.
Consequently, the FIFA disciplinary committee have declared that South Africa have forfeited the match in question and three points and three goals awarded to Lesotho.
In addition to the sanction, the South Africa Football Association have been ordered to pay a fine of CHF 10,000 and Teboho Mokeona issued a warning.
FIFA’s disciplinary committee verdict on the matter throws a twist a twist into Group C of the World Cup qualifiers with the Super Eagles with a chance of qualifying for the World Cup.
With FIFA’s decision, Benin Republic now move to the top of Group C with 14 points and a +4 goal difference. South Africa drop to 2nd place on 14 points (+3).
The Super Eagles on the other hand are third on the group with 11 points and a goal difference of (+2) ahead of the next month qualifiers.
Nigeria will take on Lesotho away and Benin Republic in Uyo. A win in both matches and favorable results in the matches involving Zimbabwe v South Africa and South Africa v Rwanda could miraculously hand the Super Eagles the World Cup ticket.
