South Africa Escapes As FIFA Releases Fresh List of Sanctioned Teams in World Cup Qualifiers

• FIFA has released its latest disciplinary list, and it does not include any sanctions against South Africa
• The Nigeria Football Federation had filed a protest to FIFA to challenge Teboho Mokoena’s eligibility against Lesotho
• South Africa stay top of Group C with 17 points, keeping qualification for the World Cup in their own hands with two games left

FIFA has released its latest list of disciplinary actions from the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, and South Africa has avoided punishment despite questions surrounding the eligibility of midfielder Teboho Mokoena.

The football governing body published a four-page document outlining sanctions against several teams but made no mention of South Africa or the disputed game against Lesotho.

This development is a blow to Nigeria’s quest to qualify for the World Cup, after the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) formally wrote to FIFA, challenging Mokoena’s inclusion in that match.

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Mokoena’s yellow card controversy

Mokoena was yellow-carded in South Africa’s 2-1 win over Benin Republic in November 2023 and again in the 3-1 victory over Zimbabwe in June 2024.

According to FIFA’s regulations, two yellow cards in separate matches will trigger an automatic suspension for the next game.

Despite this, Mokoena started and played 82 minutes in South Africa’s 2-0 win over Lesotho.

Nigeria argued that Bafana Bafana should be punished for that action, docked three points and handed a 3-0 technical defeat for fielding an ineligible player.

If that punishment had been enforced by FIFA, South Africa would drop from 17 to 14 points in Group C, and would be level with Benin and just three points ahead of Nigeria.

FIFA sanction other teams

Instead, FIFA’s new list confirmed disciplinary measures against other teams.

According to Punch, Qatar received a warning for misconduct by players and officials, while Indonesia was cautioned for issues relating to order and security at a qualifier.

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Nigeria out of World Cup race as FIFA remain silent on South Africa ineligible player drama

Earlier in January, Argentina were fined $20,000 and handed a two-match suspension for a player who breached disciplinary rules.

These remain the most severe punishments on record in the updated document.

The lack of action against South Africa stands in contrast to Equatorial Guinea’s case earlier this year, where they were docked six points for fielding Emilio Nsue, who FIFA ruled was ineligible despite his long history with the team.

The ruling was upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport and dramatically reshaped Group H.

Nigeria still hopeful for ticket

The Super Eagles remain third in Group C with 11 points, six behind leaders South Africa and three adrift of Benin, as seen on FIFA.com.

With two games left, Nigeria still have a chance to qualify either by topping the group or finishing as one of the four best runners-up across Africa’s nine groups.

Read also

Nigerian journalist writes to FIFA over delay in removing South Africa's three points

Gabon currently lead the runners-up table with 19 points, followed by Madagascar and DR Congo on 16, with Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Namibia, and Uganda on 15.

FIFA announce new change

In a related development, Legit.ng reported that FIFA has announced a major change to the global football calendar, confirming that from 2026, the traditional September and October international breaks will be merged into a single, extended window.

This decision from football's governing body comes days after Nigeria's controversial World Cup qualifier against South Africa on September 9, 2025, in Bloemfontein.

Source: Legit.ng