FIFA Officially Opens Case Against South Africa for Fielding Teboho Mokoena vs Lesotho
- FIFA have officially launched an investigation against South Africa for fielding Teboho Mokoena against Lesotho
- Bafana Bafana appeared to have gotten away with the action after a long silence from the world football governing body
- The news has sparked massive reactions from Nigerian and Benin Republic football fans who had been waiting for it
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FIFA have officially opened an investigation against South Africa for fielding the ineligible Teboho Mokoena in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier.
Mokoena, who was supposed to be suspended for the matchday five match against Lesotho after receiving a yellow card on matchday one and four, played 82 minutes before he was substituted.
Source: Getty Images
Bafana Bafana won the match 2-0 and appeared to have gotten away with the technical gaffe after a long silence from the world football governing body.
FIFA launches an investigation into South Africa
According to SABC Sport, FIFA have officially notified the South African Football Association (SAFA) that it has opened an investigation into a case of rule breach.
The publication confirmed that Mokoena and SAFA face charges of breaching several disciplinary regulations, including fielding an ineligible player.
Both parties have six days to submit their response in writing, and the case has been referred to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee for full investigation.
According to FIFA rules, if found guilty, Bafana Bafana will forfeit the match, resulting in a three-point deduction and a minimum fine of $7,500.
The possible point deduction could alter the landscape of Group C in the CAF qualifying series for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Bafana Bafana's 17 points will be reduced to 14, levelled on points with Benin Republic, though they will remain first because of a better goal difference.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria, in third, will now be closer to South Africa with a three-point difference, reigniting their hopes of qualifying for the World Cup.
Lesotho, who lost the match to South Africa in March, will now have nine points, though they will remain in fifth, behind Rwanda in fourth, who also have 11 points.
South Africans were understandably upset with their federation and technical crew for letting such a big gaffe pass without getting noticed.
@nickpily wrote:
“This complicates matters for us. The sanction historically carries a financial sanction, a 3-0 loss and three points awarded to the opposing team and a sanction on the player. FIFA may decide on one or all in the absence of mitigating factors.”
Source: Getty Images
@Umlando5 wrote:
“It's quite upsetting because the players did everything they could do to qualify, only to be sabotaged by their own federation with its corruption & inefficiencies. Heads were supposed to roll over this. Jordan was supposed to resign over Banyana crashing out of WAFCON & this.”
@Benzo_Ndlovu wrote:
“I’ve been saying, you can’t break rules and get away with it just because the other team didn’t lodge a protest. We should welcome whatever outcome that comes with it.”
@cado_ahabalala wrote:
“Not our fault here, CAF and FIFA have a system that should pick it up and alert teams of the players who are ineligible. Either way, we’ll still win our games and qualify.”
Ex-NFF president defends FIFA
Legit.ng reported that a former NFF President claimed that FIFA acted within the rules for stalling in sanctioning South Africa for fielding an ineligible player.
He differed with the case of Nigeria in 2018, claiming that FIFA notified the NFF of Shehu Abdullahi’s ineligibility, but the general secretary missed the mail.
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Source: Legit.ng
