In a dramatic turn of events that has sent shockwaves through South
African football, Bafana Bafana has been formally sanctioned by FIFA for
fielding an ineligible player, resulting in a devastating three-point
deduction that severely compromises their 2026 World Cup qualification
campaign.
The controversy stems from a World Cup qualifier against Lesotho on March
21, 2025, which South Africa won 2-0. Unbeknownst to many at the time,
midfielder Teboho Mokoena, who featured in the match, was required to serve
a one-match suspension. His participation has now been deemed a serious
breach of FIFA regulations, leading to severe consequences from the world
football governing body.
A official statement released by FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee confirmed the
sanctions. The committee found the South African Football Association (SAFA)
guilty of breaching article 19 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code and article 14
of the World Cup qualification regulations. As a direct result, the
hard-fought victory against Lesotho has been officially declared a forfeit,
with a new scoreline of 3-0 awarded in favour of Lesotho.
The sporting penalty carries immediate and significant implications for the
Group standings. Prior to the ruling, Bafana Bafana enjoyed a three-point
cushion at the summit of their qualifying table. With the deduction of three
points, the team has now plummeted to second place, fundamentally altering
the dynamics of the group and placing immense pressure on the squad to
secure positive results in their two remaining final qualifiers.
Beyond the points deduction, SAFA has been handed a financial penalty of CHF
10,000 (approximately 200,000 South African Rand), while the player at the
center of the incident, Teboho Mokoena, has been issued with a formal
warning.
FIFA’s statement concluded by noting that the decision remains subject to a
potential appeal. SAFA has been notified of the terms and has a ten-day
window to request a motivated decision, which would provide the detailed
legal reasoning behind the ruling. Should an appeal be launched, it would be
heard by the FIFA Appeal Committee, representing the last hope for SAFA to
have this punitive decision overturned and their precious points restored.
