South Africa could face a potential 3-point deduction in the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers after allegations surfaced that midfielder Teboho Mokoena played despite being ineligible in the Matchday 5 game against Lesotho last week.
Mokoena is believed to have accumulated two yellow cards in previous matches, against Benin and Zimbabwe, which should have resulted in a one-match suspension under FIFA’s rules.
According to FIFA regulations, a player who receives two yellow cards in different matches is automatically suspended for the following game. Despite this, Mokoena was included in the starting lineup and played 81 minutes in the match against Lesotho.
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If confirmed, this violation could result in a points deduction for South Africa, impacting their progress in the qualifiers. The incident is tied to FIFA’s World Cup Qualifiers Rulebook, specifically sub-section 9, which mandates that players who accumulate two yellow cards must miss their next match.
Should Mokoena’s ineligibility be validated, South Africa’s 2-0 win over Lesotho could be overturned, costing them the three points earned in the match. Currently, South Africa leads Group C with 13 points, ahead of Rwanda and Benin, both with 8 points.
A points deduction would bring South Africa’s total down to 10 points, narrowing the gap with teams like Nigeria, who have 7 points.
However, South Africa might avoid the penalty, as Lesotho did not file a formal protest within the 24-hour window allowed by FIFA regulations after the match. While a points deduction remains a possibility, South Africa could instead face alternative sanctions, such as a financial penalty.
