South Africa's prospects for qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have taken a significant hit after the country was penalized for fielding an ineligible player.
Teboho Mokoena played in a match against Lesotho, which saw South Africa win 2-0 in March. However, the 28-year-old midfielder was supposed to be serving a suspension because he had already accumulated two yellow cards.
A FIFA disciplinary committee ruled that South Africa had breached competition rules and consequently imposed a 3-0 forfeit for the match.
Mokoena’s involvement in the win over Lesotho in March has now put South Africa and Benin on 14 points each, while Nigeria and Rwanda sit at 11 points. With two games left next month, the group remains wide open.
“We apologise to the nation for this administrative oversight and will reflect on the steps to take at the conclusion of our qualifying campaign. Finally, we call on all South Africans to rally behind the team during this final and crucial stage of the qualifiers,” Saffa acknowledged the Fifa decision.
