South Africa’s football authorities will appeal a FIFA disciplinary ruling that strips Bafana Bafana of three points and awards their March World Cup qualifier against Lesotho as a 3–0 forfeit, insiders at the South African Football Association (SAFA) have told AfricaSoccer.com exclusively.
The sanction follows FIFA’s finding that midfielder Teboho Mokoena was ineligible for the fixture in Johannesburg, a match South Africa won 2–0 on the night.
FIFA also fined SAFA CHF 10,000 and issued a warning to Mokoena.
The deduction drops Bafana from top spot to second in their qualifying group, ramping up pressure ahead of the final two matches in the 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign.
While SAFA has not yet released a formal public statement, officials familiar with the internal discussions have told African football news outfit AfricaSoccer.com on condition of anonymity that the association will request FIFA’s “motivated decision” within the 10-day window and then lodge an appeal to the FIFA Appeal Committee.
The insider added that SAFA believes there are “mitigating circumstances” around the player’s disciplinary status, and that the legal team is preparing submissions “as a matter of urgency”.
In its communication, FIFA said South Africa breached Article 19 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code and Article 14 of the World Cup preliminary competition regulations by fielding an ineligible player.
The disciplinary committee therefore ordered the fixture to be forfeited by South Africa and confirmed the financial penalty.
FIFA noted that the decision can be appealed and that, upon request, a full written rationale will be published on its legal portal.
For Bafana coach Hugo Broos, the ruling reshapes the group picture.
South Africa had opened a three-point cushion with that victory over Lesotho; losing the points places automatic qualification and play-off positioning back in the balance.
Much will now hinge on how quickly the appeal can be heard and whether any stay of execution is granted before the next international window.
From a football perspective, the immediate task remains clear: win the remaining qualifiers. Internally, the technical staff are said to be planning as if the deduction will stand, while SAFA’s executives pursue the legal route.
That dual-track approach is designed to protect competitive focus while the boardroom battle plays out.
The episode also serves as a stark reminder of the administrative precision required in tournament football.
Player eligibility is routinely cross-checked by national associations, team managers and match commissioners; a single oversight can carry heavy sporting and financial costs.
SAFA’s appeal will seek to overturn or reduce those consequences, but until then, the table reflects a decisive swing against Bafana.
FIFA’s process allows ten days for South Africa to request the detailed reasoning, after which the clock starts on an appeal.
Any subsequent decision by the FIFA Appeal Committee would determine whether Bafana regain their points—or must chase qualification from a more precarious position.
Either way, the margins just narrowed, on and off the pitch.
