FIFA has handed South Africa a three-point deduction for fielding Teboho Mokoena while he was ineligible during their 2-0 win over Lesotho in a 2026 World Cup qualifier on 21 March 2025.
Mokoena should have been suspended after receiving two yellow cards in South Africa’s previous World Cup qualifiers.
However, due to an administrative oversight by South African Football Association (SAFA) officials, coach Hugo Broos played the Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder in the match.
The decision follows formal protests from Bafana Bafana’s Group C rivals, which include Benin, Nigeria, and Rwanda.
South Africa, who had been top of the group on 17 points, have dropped to second place behind Benin on goal difference.
FIFA awarded Lesotho a 3-0 victory, meaning South Africa have lost the two goals they had scored against Likuena and now have a goal difference of +3, compared with Benin’s +4.
Lesotho move up to nine points, while Nigeria and Rwanda, both on 11 points, now have renewed hopes of progressing.
To qualify for next year’s World Cup in North America, South Africa must win their remaining matches against Zimbabwe and Rwanda next month, while hoping Benin drop points in their fixtures.
Bafana Bafana will face Zimbabwe on 10 October at Moses Mabhida Stadium, followed by a clash with Rwanda on 14 October at Mbombela Stadium.
FIFA also confirmed that SAFA has been fined 10,000 Swiss francs (around R216,000). Mokoena, who was not selected for the next match against Benin after the mistake, received only a warning.
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