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South Africa has been stripped of three points and three goals in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Lesotho after fielding an ineligible player. FIFA ruled that midfielder Teboho Mokoena, who was suspended due to accumulated yellow cards, should not have played in the match, which South Africa initially won 2-0.
Mokoena had received two yellow cards in previous matches against Benin Republic and Zimbabwe, making him ineligible for the game against Lesotho. However, he was still included in the squad, leading to FIFA’s decision to enforce disciplinary action.
As a result, FIFA has awarded Lesotho a 3-0 victory and deducted the three points South Africa had gained from their original win. This decision significantly alters the standings in Group C of the African World Cup qualifiers.
Despite initial reports that Lesotho had filed a formal complaint, it has been clarified that FIFA’s decision was based on its own regulations, which automatically apply in such cases. Nigerian football lawyer Jonas Michael pointed out that a similar incident occurred in 2018 when Nigeria fielded an ineligible player, Shehu Abdullahi, in a qualifier against Algeria. In that instance, FIFA applied the same punishment without requiring a protest from Algeria.
“If you’re South African, just deduct three points from your team’s tally,” Michael said, adding that South Africa is also likely to face a fine in addition to the points and goals deduction.
The ruling has had a major impact on the Group C standings. While South Africa still leads the group, their advantage has been significantly reduced. The deduction also boosts the chances of Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Benin, Rwanda, and Lesotho, who are all vying for qualification.
Despite this setback, South Africa remains unbeaten in the qualifiers and is determined to continue its campaign under coach Hugo Broos. The team has been enjoying a resurgence following an impressive performance at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) earlier this year.
With four matches remaining in the group stage, the race for a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup remains wide open. South Africa will now need to recover from this setback and avoid further errors as they continue their qualification journey.
