In a dramatic twist to the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, FIFA has sanctioned the South African Football Association (SAFA) for fielding an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, in their March 21, 2025, clash against Lesotho. The global football body ruled that South Africa breached Article 19 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code and Article 14 of the World Cup preliminary competition regulations.
As punishment, South Africa has been ordered to forfeit the fixture by a 3-0 scoreline in favour of Lesotho, pay a fine of 10,000 Swiss francs (£9,000), while Mokoena himself received an official warning. FIFA confirmed on Monday that the disciplinary decision had been communicated to all parties, with SAFA having ten days to request a detailed ruling or file an appeal before the FIFA Appeal Committee.
The ruling is a heavy blow to South Africa’s qualification hopes, as the forfeited points could prove decisive in a tightly contested group where every result counts. For Lesotho, it represents a rare lifeline in their World Cup campaign, while for other contenders in the group, particularly Nigeria’s Super Eagles, the development provides a potential advantage in the race for a top spot.
Analysts say the sanction not only dents South Africa’s momentum but also reshapes the group dynamics, opening the door for Nigeria to consolidate its position and edge closer to qualification. With the Super Eagles already considered favourites in the group, South Africa’s setback may tip the balance further in Nigeria’s favour.
This decision underscores FIFA’s zero-tolerance approach to regulatory breaches and serves as a reminder to national federations about the high stakes of compliance in World Cup qualifiers. For Nigerian fans, it is another reason to believe that the Super Eagles’ road to the 2026 World Cup is becoming clearer, though they must still deliver on the pitch to secure their place.
