South Africa demands full FIFA ruling over decision to dock Bafana Bafana 2026 World Cup points

The South African Football Association is pushing for full transparency after FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee stripped Bafana Bafana of crucial 2026 World Cup qualifying points.

The sanction came after midfielder Teboho Mokoena was fielded in the match against Lesotho on 21 March 2025, a move FIFA deemed ineligible.

The ruling means the game has been declared a 3-0 victory for Lesotho. In addition, SAFA has been fined CHF 10,000, while Mokoena himself received a warning. The setback has angered the Association, which is determined to challenge the decision through the appropriate channels.

In its official response, SAFA stated: “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,”

The penalty comes at a critical stage in qualifying, with Bafana needing results to stay competitive in Group C. Their immediate test will be against Zimbabwe at Moses Mabhida Stadium on 10 October, before hosting Rwanda at Mbombela Stadium four days later.