Group C leaders, South Africa are at risk of losing three crucial points in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers after fielding an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, in their 2-0 victory over Lesotho last Friday.
Teboho, a Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder, had already accumulated two yellow cards in the qualifiers before the game against Lesotho, making him ineligible to feature.
According to FIFA’s World Cup qualifying regulations, a player is automatically suspended for the next match after receiving two cautions in different games.
“If players or team officials receive two cautions in one match (in matches decided by penalties) or in two different matches of the competition, they will be automatically suspended from their team’s subsequent match,” FIFA’s rule book states.
Teboho’s Suspension and South Africa’s Risk
Teboho’s bookings came during:
- South Africa’s 2-1 win over Benin (November 2023) – Cautioned in the 54th minute.
- South Africa’s 3-1 win over Zimbabwe (June 2024) – Cautioned in the 52nd minute.
Despite being suspended, Mokoena started and played 82 minutes against Lesotho, before being substituted for Thalente Mbatha.
Will South Africa Be Penalized?
For Nigeria or Lesotho to benefit from South Africa’s error, they must have submitted a protest within FIFA’s stipulated time frame.
FIFA’s disciplinary code states:
“Protests regarding the eligibility of players selected for matches in the preliminary competition shall be submitted in writing to the FIFA Match Commissioner within two hours of the match in question and followed up with a full written report, including a copy of the original protest, to be submitted to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee within 24 hours.”
If the protest was submitted on time and is upheld, Lesotho (currently on five points) will be awarded three points, taking them to eight points—which could impact Nigeria’s chances of qualification.
South Africa Respond with Another Win Amid Controversy
South Africa strengthened their lead in Group C with another 2-0 win over Benin in Abidjan on Tuesday amid the looming risk of a points deduction.
Goals from Burnley striker, Lyle Foster and Jayden Adams sealed their fourth victory in the qualifiers, extending their lead to five points over second-placed teams.
What It Means for Nigeria
If FIFA deducts three points from South Africa, Nigeria could have a realistic chance of overtaking them in the standings, depending on upcoming results.
However, if no formal protest was lodged within the required 24-hour timeframe, South Africa’s win over Lesotho will stand, keeping them firmly in pole position for an automatic qualification spot.
With only four matches remaining, Nigeria must now win their upcoming games and hope for a slip-up from South Africa to keep their World Cup dream alive.
