South Africa’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign could be in jeopardy as the team faces a potential points deduction for fielding Teboho Mokoena in their 2-0 victory over Lesotho last Friday evening.
Mokoena Ineligible Due to Yellow Card Accumulation
FIFA regulations state that a player who accumulates two yellow cards in separate matches must serve a one-match suspension. Mokoena had received a yellow card in South Africa’s opening World Cup qualifier against Benin in November 2023, as well as in a previous match against Zimbabwe in July of the same year. This made him ineligible to feature against Lesotho.
Despite this, Mokoena played 82 minutes at the Peter Mokaba Stadium before being substituted for Thalente Mbatha.
Lesotho FA Files Protest with FIFA
The Lesotho Football Association (LFA) has officially submitted a query to FIFA regarding the eligibility of Mokoena in the fixture. FIFA’s regulations specify that:
- Protests regarding player eligibility must be submitted in writing to the FIFA Match Commissioner within two hours of the match and followed up with a full written report to FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee within 24 hours.
- Players who receive two cautions in separate matches are automatically suspended for their team’s next fixture.
If FIFA upholds Lesotho’s complaint, South Africa could be stripped of the three points earned from the match, significantly affecting their standing in Group C.
Current Group C Standings
- South Africa – 10 points
- Benin – 8 points
- Rwanda – 7 points
- Nigeria – 6 points
- Lesotho – 5 points
- Zimbabwe – 3 points
Should FIFA rule against South Africa, the group standings could change dramatically, potentially opening the door for Benin, Rwanda, or Nigeria to close the gap in the qualification race.
