South Africa’s national football team, Bafana Bafana, are at the centre of a growing eligibility storm that could dramatically impact their hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Midfielder Teboho Mokoena, a key player in coach Hugo Broos’ setup, featured in South Africa’s 2-0 win over Lesotho on 21 March despite being ineligible due to a suspension from accumulated yellow cards.
The resulting controversy could see FIFA dock South Africa crucial points and reshape Group C standings.
Key points at a glance:
- Mokoena accumulated two yellow cards earlier in the qualifiers — against Benin (2023) and Zimbabwe (2024) — triggering an automatic one-match suspension under FIFA rules.
- He played 81 minutes in South Africa’s win over Lesotho on Matchday 5 of the qualifiers, in violation of those rules.
- Lesotho have lodged a formal protest with FIFA and CAF, requesting that the 2-0 loss be overturned into a 3-0 technical victory.
- FIFA’s disciplinary rules (Article 19.1 & 19.2) allow sanctions even without a protest, as seen in a similar case involving Nigeria in the 2018 qualifiers.
- A points deduction could drop South Africa from 13 to 10 points, leaving them just three points ahead of Nigeria in a tight Group C.
- Nigeria and other Group C nations are monitoring the situation closely, as any shift in standings could boost their qualification prospects.
- Coach Hugo Broos has refused to comment, saying, “It is something that will be resolved in the coming weeks.”
- South Africa’s football federation (SAFA) has remained silent, declining comment on the administrative oversight.
What FIFA rules say
According to FIFA’s World Cup qualification rulebook, a player who collects two yellow cards in separate matches must serve a one-match suspension. Mokoena’s cautions should have ruled him out of the Lesotho clash.
FIFA regulations also state that protests regarding player eligibility must be submitted within 24 hours of a match — a requirement Lesotho are believed to have met.
However, even if no formal complaint is submitted, FIFA can act on its own, as was the case when Nigeria fielded an ineligible player (Shehu Abdullahi) in 2018. Nigeria were docked three points, and their draw against Algeria was reversed to a 3-0 defeat.
What Lesotho are saying
Lesotho Football Association Secretary-General Mokhosi Mohapi told BBC Sport Africa:
“We are hoping for [FIFA] to respect their own regulations and act appropriately. Even if they just caution South Africa, it will be okay. If they give us the points, so be it. [It would be] the cherry on top.”
In another interview with the Sowetan, Mohapi added:
“The question is, was a rule broken? If yes, we are fully entitled to protest and get the points. We have no hard feelings. We want those points.”
Implications for Group C
If FIFA rules against South Africa:
- Lesotho would move to nine points, just one behind the new group leaders.
- South Africa’s lead would shrink to one point, intensifying the battle for the group’s sole automatic qualification spot.
- Nigeria, with six points, could capitalise by winning their remaining fixtures.
Only the top team from each African group is guaranteed a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while the four best runners-up will enter a play-off for a final spot in the intercontinental play-offs.
Broos proud but frustrated
Coach Hugo Broos, who has overseen Bafana’s resurgence over the past four years, remains proud of his side’s performances but is likely privately furious over the costly error.
“It was not easy in South Africa in the first year… But we went on to look for the right players. We are strong now,” he said after the Benin game.
Despite the looming sanction, Bafana Bafana are unbeaten since their last loss to Rwanda in 2023 and have made remarkable progress under Broos.
“We are not afraid anymore of who plays against us… We are in a good position now. If we do not do stupid things, we are very close to World Cup qualification,” the Belgian coach added — with irony not lost on observers.
What happens next?
FIFA has not yet issued a ruling, but a decision is expected in the coming weeks. If South Africa are found to have breached regulations, they could lose three points, face a CHF 6,000 fine, and see the match awarded 3-0 to Lesotho.
Until then, Bafana Bafana remain in limbo — top of Group C on the pitch, but with their World Cup dream under serious threat in the boardroom.
