Abuja — In a dramatic turn that reshuffles the 2026 World Cup qualifying drama in Africa, FIFA has officially docked three points from South Africa after ruling they fielded an ineligible player in a match against Lesotho.
Here are the key facts:
- Offence: South Africa used midfielder Teboho Mokoena in their 2-0 win over Lesotho in a March qualifier, despite him being suspended under competition rules for accumulating two prior yellow cards.
- Sanction: FIFA has overturned the result. Lesotho are awarded a 3-0 win. South Africa lose the three points they had gained.
- Additional Penalties: A fine of 10,000 Swiss Francs was imposed on South Africa, and Mokoena received an official warning.
- Impact on Group C Standings: With the deduction, South Africa are now level on points with Benin at the top of Group C, both sitting on 14 points. Nigeria and Rwanda trail with 11 points each. Only the group winner qualifies directly for the 2026 World Cup; runners-up face a more difficult path via playoffs.
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