FIFA has deducted three points from South Africa in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers due to a rule violation, providing a significant advantage to Nigeria’s Super Eagles.
The FIFA Disciplinary Committee penalized the South African Football Association (SAFA) for fielding an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, in their 2-0 victory against Lesotho on March 21, 2025. Mokoena, who had accumulated two yellow cards in prior matches, was required to serve a one-match suspension but played against Lesotho, violating Article 19 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code and Article 14 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Preliminary Competition Regulations.
As a result, FIFA declared the match forfeited, awarding Lesotho a 3-0 win. SAFA has been fined CHF 10,000, and Mokoena received a warning. The decision was communicated to the parties today, with a 10-day window to request a detailed ruling, which would be published on legal.fifa.com if requested. The ruling is subject to appeal before the FIFA Appeal Committee.
This decision reshapes Group C standings in the CAF 2026 World Cup qualifiers. South Africa loses the three points from their win, now recording a 3-0 loss. Previously tied with Benin at 14 points, South Africa’s deduction boosts Nigeria, who hold 11 points, in their race against South Africa, Benin, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, and Lesotho for the group’s top spot, which secures automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
With the final rounds approaching, the pressure intensifies for all teams, making each remaining match critical.
