Bafana Bafana of South Africa
By Our Reporter
FIFA has deducted three points, three goals from Bafana Bafana of South Africa
FIFA overturned the result, declaring the match forfeited in favour of Lesotho, who are awarded three points and a 3-0 victory.
This has affected South Africa’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have been thrown into chaos after world football governing body, FIFA, slammed heavy sanctions on the country’s football body for fielding an ineligible player.
In a decision announced on Monday, FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee ruled that midfielder Teboho Mokoena, who should have been serving a suspension for accumulated yellow cards, was illegally fielded in the March 21 clash against Lesotho.
South Africa had won the game 2-0.
FIFA has now overturned the result, declaring the match forfeited in favour of Lesotho, who are awarded three points and a 3-0 victory.
The South African Football Association (SAFA) has also been slammed with a fine of 10,000 Swiss Francs (about $12,500), while Mokoena was handed a formal warning.
The punishment has dramatically altered the dynamics of Group C of the African qualifiers. South Africa, previously on top of the group, now slip to second place behind Benin on goal difference.
The development breathes new life into the campaigns of Nigeria and Rwanda, who now sit just three points adrift of the leaders.
With only the group winners guaranteed automatic qualification for the World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, the sanction has left South Africa facing an uphill battle.
The final rounds of qualifiers in October are now set to be explosive, with Benin travelling to Rwanda and Nigeria, while South Africa must navigate a tricky away tie against Zimbabwe before hosting Rwanda.
FIFA confirmed that SAFA has 10 days to request a detailed explanation of the ruling, which could be appealed before the FIFA Appeals Committee.
However, for now, the 3-0 forfeiture stands, leaving South Africa’s World Cup dream hanging by a thread.
The statement reads: “FIFA Disciplinary Committee sanctions South African Football Association.
“The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has sanctioned the South African Football Association (SAFA) for having fielded an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, in the South Africa v. Lesotho match played on 21 March 2025 in the FIFA World Cup 2026 preliminary competition, 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 has declared the match in question to have been forfeited by the representative team of South Africa by a score of 3-0.
“SAFA has also been ordered to pay a fine of CHF 10,000 to FIFA, while Teboho Mokoena has been issued with a warning.
“The parties were notified of the terms of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee’s decision today. In accordance with the relevant provisions of the FDC, they have ten days in which to request a motivated decision, which, if requested, would subsequently be published on legal.fifa.com.
“The forfeiture decision remains subject to a potential appeal before the FIFA Appeal Committee.”
