SAFA confirms decision to appeal to FIFA over ineligible Teboho Mokoena

The South African Football Association (SAFA) has announced that it will appeal the FIFA ruling, indicating that midfielder Teboho Mokoena was not eligible to feature in Bafana Bafana’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Lesotho.

In a ruling by FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee, South Africa has been found guilty of erroneously fielding Teboho Mokoena for the clash against Lesotho on March 21.

The FIFA Disciplinary Committee declared the match to have been forfeited by Bafana Bafana by the score of 3-0.

SAFA has also been ordered to pay a fine of CHF 10,000, while Mokoena has been issued with a warning.

In a statement from SAFA on Monday evening, the association noted that it will be appealing the FIFA decision, confirming an exclusive report by Africasoccer.

READ MORE: South Africa to appeal FIFA ruling as Bafana docked points in Mokoena eligibility case

“As SAFA, we are deeply disappointed with this unprecedented outcome noting that it was delivered by a single-member panel without reasons, and without affording the Association an opportunity to present legal arguments.

“The Association confirms that we have requested written reasons for the judgment and intend to lodge a formal appeal with the FIFA Appeals Committee within the prescribed 10-day period under FIFA’s disciplinary rules,” SAFA said in its statement.

While the ruling puts South Africa’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification hopes in the balance, SAFA has stressed that it remains committed to supporting the Bafana Bafana to overcome this setback.

Bafana Bafana had been top of the table with 17 points, but the ruling has changed the outlook dramatically.
The revised Group C standings now have Benin in the lead but tied with South Africa on 14 points each.

Nigeria’s Super Eagles are in third with 11 points, the same as Rwanda in fourth, while Lesotho and Zimbabwe complete the table in fifth and sixth positions, on nine and four points respectively.

The situation in Group C means it will go down to the wire in the October international break when the final round of group games are played.

For South Africa, the Bafana Bafana are scheduled to take on Zimbabwe away and Rwanda at home. The Bafana Bafana will need to win both matches convincingly and hope that results from Benin’s matches will go in their favour to guarantee automatic qualification to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Benin, on the other hand, will face off with Rwanda and Nigeria in their last two matches of the qualifiers next month.