Group C leaders in the 2026 FIFA World Cup African qualifiers, South Africa, could face a three-point deduction for fielding an ineligible player in their 2-0 victory over Lesotho last Friday.
The player in question, midfielder Teboho Mokoena, had already accumulated two yellow cards earlier in the qualifiers, making him ineligible for the match.
Mokoena’s Yellow Card Record
- November 2023: Booked in the 54th minute during South Africa’s 2-1 win over Benin.
- June 2024: Received another yellow card in the 52nd minute during their 3-1 victory over Zimbabwe.
Despite these cautions, Mokoena started and played 82 minutes against Lesotho before being substituted for Thalente Mbatha.
FIFA Rules on Player Eligibility
FIFA’s regulations on World Cup qualifiers clearly state:
“If players receive two cautions in different matches of the competition, they will be automatically suspended from their team’s subsequent match.”
This means Mokoena should have been suspended for the Lesotho match, and South Africa’s use of him violates FIFA’s disciplinary rules.
Possible Consequences for South Africa
If a formal protest is submitted within FIFA’s stipulated time, South Africa could be stripped of the three points from the match, which would be awarded to Lesotho. This would boost Lesotho to eight points in the standings and improve Nigeria’s chances of overtaking South Africa in the group.
Protest Deadline and FIFA’s Response
FIFA rules require that protests regarding player eligibility be:
- Filed in writing to the FIFA Match Commissioner within two hours of the match.
- Followed up with a full written report sent to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee within 24 hours.
Failure to meet these conditions could result in the protest being disregarded.
Current Group C Standings
- South Africa – 10 points
- Benin Republic – 8 points
- Rwanda – 7 points
- Nigeria – 6 points
- Lesotho – 5 points
South Africa are set to face Benin Republic in Abidjan on Tuesday, a match that could further shake up the standings. Meanwhile, the outcome of FIFA’s decision on the protest could significantly impact the race for the automatic qualification spot.
