Bafana Bafana’s push for a place at the 2026 World Cup has taken a serious hit after Fifa confirmed the national team has been docked three points for fielding an ineligible player, Cape {town} Etc reports.
The sanction relates to South Africa’s Group C qualifier against Lesotho on 21 March 2025, a game Bafana had won 2-0 but which has now been overturned. Fifa revealed that midfielder Teboho Mokoena should not have been on the pitch, declaring the fixture forfeited and awarding Lesotho a 3-0 victory instead.
‘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,’ read a statement from Fifa on Monday.
‘Consequently, the Fifa Disciplinary Commitee 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 (about R215 000) to FIFA, while Teboho Mokoena has been issued with a warning.’
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The ruling drops Bafana from top spot in Group C to second place on 14 points, behind Benin, who now lead the standings on goal difference. Nigeria sit in third with 11 points, with Rwanda just behind them, while Lesotho move up to nine points after the ruling.
Only the winners of each group will secure automatic qualification for the finals in the USA, Canada and Mexico next year, making this setback a costly one for Hugo Broos’ side. Despite the sanction, Bafana still have two decisive fixtures left to play. They host Zimbabwe on 10 October and Rwanda on 13 October, with both games set to take place on home soil.
Zimbabwe, listed as the home side, will face Bafana at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban due to not having a suitable venue available in their own country.
Benin, meanwhile, have to negotiate tough away games against Rwanda and Nigeria, leaving the group wide open, even if South Africa’s miscalculation has thrown them into unnecessary danger.
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