South Africa’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification hopes have been dealt a major blow after FIFA officially docked points from Bafana Bafana for fielding an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, in their March qualifier against Lesotho.
FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee ruled that Mokoena, who had accumulated two yellow cards, should have been suspended for the match played on 21 March 2025 in Polokwane.
Despite this, he featured in South Africa’s 2-0 win, triggering a disciplinary breach under Article 19 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code and Article 14 of the 2026 Preliminary Competition Regulations.
Match Forfeited, South Africa Penalised
The consequences are significant:
- The 2-0 win has been overturned, and the match is now recorded as a 3-0 victory for Lesotho
- South Africa drops three points, losing their top spot in Group C
- Benin now leapfrogs Bafana to lead the group
- The South African Football Association (SAFA) has been fined CHF 10 000 (R220 000)
- Mokoena has received a formal warning
“The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has declared the match in question to have been forfeited… SAFA has also been ordered to pay a fine of CHF 10,000,” read an official FIFA statement.
Group C Shake-Up
Before the ruling:
- South Africa had 17 points from 8 games
- Benin trailed with 14 points
Now:
- South Africa drops to 14 points, behind Benin on goal difference or head-to-head (depending on CAF/FIFA tiebreakers)
SAFA Faces Scrutiny
The ruling has intensified scrutiny on SAFA and coach Hugo Broos’ staff for the oversight.
The administrative blunder could now prove costly in a closely contested group.
SAFA may choose to appeal the ruling within 10 days, but the forfeiture stands unless successfully overturned by FIFA’s Appeal Committee.
What’s Next for Bafana Bafana?
Bafana Bafana now face must-win fixtures against:
- Zimbabwe (Friday, 10 October at 18:00)
- Rwanda (Tuesday, 14 October at 18:00)
Meanwhile, Benin will face:
With only two matches remaining in the qualification campaign, South Africa may well need six points from six to have any chance of qualifying, relying on other results to go their way.
Fan and Analyst Reaction
This incident has sparked widespread criticism from fans, pundits, and former players, with many calling it a “rookie administrative error” at a time when the national team had regained momentum under Broos.
More clarity is expected if SAFA requests a motivated decision from FIFA, which would be made public on legal.fifa.com.
