SOUTH Africa risks a three-point deduction in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers campaign for allegedly fielding an ineligible player in their fixture against Lesotho.
Teboho Mokoena, a midfielder, who was suspended due to accumulated yellow cards, was fielded.
FIFA rules could see them forfeit the match and hurt their World Cup hopes. South Africa won the match played last Friday 2-0.
Mokoena was booked in South Africa’s opening qualifier against Benin Republic (Match Day 1) and picked up another caution against Zimbabwe (Match Day 4). Despite this, he featured for 81 minutes in the Match Day 5 encounter with Lesotho, a potential breach of FIFA regulations (which states that a player who receives two yellow cards in separate matches must serve a one-match suspension).
Although, this suspension rule has always been applied to the standard six-game format and if it is confirmed to hold for the current ten-game qualification format, South Africa could face a three-point deduction for fielding an ineligible player.
Meanwhile, Lesotho FA has released a comment on South Africa fielding an ineligible player in Mokoena
“We were made aware of Mokoena’s bookings and we have since sent a formal inquiry to CAF and FIFA,” LFA Secretary-General, Mokhosi Mohapi, said, as reported by SowetanLIVE
“We have heard that Nigeria also want to protest and they too are entitled to that because the result (last Friday) prejudices everyone. Suppose it was us who fielded a defaulter and got the points, Bafana would have done the same.
“Unfortunately, the law is the law and Safa should have known about the bookings. We have no hard feelings. We want those points.”
Eighteen-Eleven Media