South Africa’s bid to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup has taken a major setback after the national team was sanctioned for using an ineligible player during the qualifiers. Midfielder Teboho Mokoena, 28, featured in Bafana Bafana’s 2-0 victory over Lesotho in March despite being suspended after accumulating two yellow cards in earlier matches. FIFA’s disciplinary committee ruled that South Africa breached competition rules, awarding Lesotho a 3-0 win by forfeit.
The South African Football Association (SAFA) was fined 10,000 Swiss Francs ($12,500) for the violation, while Mokoena received an official warning. The ruling significantly alters the race in Group C of African qualifiers, with South Africa dropping from first place to second, level on points with Benin but trailing on goal difference. The decision throws Group C wide open. Nigeria and Rwanda, who trail the leaders by just three points, are now back in contention for automatic qualification. Only the group winners are guaranteed a place at the 2026 finals in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The upcoming fixtures will be decisive: Benin face away trips to Rwanda and Nigeria between 10 and 14 October, while South Africa travel to Zimbabwe before hosting Rwanda. SAFA has ten days to lodge an appeal against FIFA’s decision, though overturning such sanctions has historically been rare.
