South African Football Stakeholders Panic in New Comments Amid Possible 3-Point Forfeiture
- South African football pundit Peter du Toit has criticised SAFA's handling of FIFA's investigation into the World Cup qualifiers
- Bafana Bafana fielded an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, in a 2-0 2026 World Cup qualifier win against Lesotho in March
- It could lead to a three-point deduction, which will affect Bafana Bafana's chances of picking an automatic ticket to the Mundial
A South African football pundit, Peter du Toit, has expressed concerns over the country's approach to the imminent three-point deduction in the World Cup qualifiers.
Bafana Bafana could be sanctioned for fielding an ineligible player during their game against the Crocodiles of Lesotho back in March.
South Africa won that game 2-0, but Teboho Mokoena, who should have been suspended after bagging yellow cards in two previous matches, was in the game, per ESPN.
Source: Getty Images
Although Lesotho failed to lodge a complaint to the FIFA disciplinary committee at the stipulated time, Nigeria and Benin are calling for sanctions.
South Africa lead the group with 17 points, Benin are second with 14, while Nigeria are third with 11 alongside Rwanda.
Should Bafana Bafana forfeit that match against Lesotho, they will drop to 14 points, and Gernot Rohr's Benin will go top of the table courtesy of a better goal difference.
With the qualifiers returning in October, anxiety grips South Africans as FIFA's hammer could shatter their World Cup dreams.
SoccerBeat contributor Peter du Toit is particularly unimpressed with how SAFA has handled the situation since the news first broke in March.
He shared his views during an episode of Betway Beat, where he discussed FIFA's ongoing investigation.
Du Toit said:
"It doesn't seem SAFA's taking this seriously. When I say it doesn't seem like it because, what action has SAFA taken? I think it's wrong it's taken six to seven months for FIFA to come for a matter that is very simple."
Also, popular pundit Thomas Kwenaite buttressed the same point, expressing utter dismay. Kwenaite added:
"SAFA seems to have laboured under the misconception because Lesotho did not file a protest on time and maybe SAF thought that they would just get away with it."
NFF hopeful of World Cup qualification
Meanwhile, the president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ibrahim Gusau, has maintained that the Super Eagles will do everything possible to pick an automatic ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Nigeria have been dismal in the qualification series, managing just two wins from eight matches as they languish in third position in CAF qualification group C with 11 points. He said:
"We will do our best to make sure that Nigeria qualifies for the World Cup."
Source: Getty Images
NFF drops Cyriel Dessers
Legit.ng earlier reported that the Nigeria Football Federation have reportedly axed Cyriel Dessers from the Super Eagles squad ahead of next month's 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
The former Genk star got a chance to prove himself under Eric Chelle at the 2025 Unity Cup in the absence of Galatasaray forward Victor Osimhen.
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Source: Legit.ng
