The South African Football Association (SAFA) have been sanctioned by Fifa’s Disciplinary Committee for fielding an ineligible player in their World Cup qualifier against Lesotho on 21 March 2025.
Midfielder Teboho Mokoena was selected for the match in breach of tournament regulations, prompting Fifa to award the fixture to Lesotho by a scoreline of 3-0.
The sanction has proved costly for South Africa, who have dropped from first place in their qualifying group to second. They had been leading the table with 17 points but now find themselves on 14 points following the forfeiture.
The loss of three points represents a significant blow to South Africa’s World Cup qualification hopes, with the African qualifying campaign entering its crucial stages. The 2026 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, will feature an expanded 48-team format, offering Africa more qualification places than previous tournaments.
SAFA have also been fined 10,000 Swiss francs (approximately £7,900), whilst Mokoena has received a warning for his involvement in the breach.
The sanctions follow a breach of article 19 of Fifa’s Disciplinary Code and article 14 of the World Cup 2026 Preliminary Competition Regulations. The regulations stipulate strict eligibility criteria for players participating in international competition, including requirements related to suspensions, registrations and documentation.
The parties were notified of the decision today and have 10 days to request a detailed explanation of the ruling, which would then be published on Fifa’s legal website. Should SAFA choose to appeal, the case would be heard before Fifa’s Appeal Committee, though any appeal process could take several weeks to resolve.
The forfeiture remains subject to a potential appeal before Fifa’s Appeal Committee.
South Africa now sit second in Group C on 14 points, level with new leaders Benin. Nigeria and Rwanda follow on 11 points each, whilst Lesotho have moved up to six points following the awarded victory. Zimbabwe remain bottom of the group with four points.
The revised standings have thrown the qualifying group wide open, with four teams now realistically in contention for the top positions. The outcome of this disciplinary case could ultimately prove decisive in determining which nations progress to the next stage of African World Cup qualification.
