South Africa’s journey in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers has hit a potential roadblock as concerns arise over their recent squad selection.
Despite their commanding 2-0 win against Lesotho last Friday, Bafana Bafana now face the risk of a points deduction due to fielding an ineligible player.
Midfielder Teboho Mokoena, who had received yellow cards in two separate qualifying matches, should have served a mandatory one-match suspension.
However, he was included in the squad for the Lesotho fixture, a violation that could lead to disciplinary action from FIFA.
Coach Hugo Broos remained tight-lipped about the situation, stating that the issue would be resolved in the coming days.
Meanwhile, FIFA’s historical handling of similar cases suggests that South Africa could face a setback. In 2013, Ethiopia was sanctioned for a comparable offense, resulting in a forfeited match and a 3-0 victory awarded to Botswana.
While reports suggest Lesotho may have missed the deadline to lodge an official complaint, a team official insists that FIFA will still review the case if the protest holds merit.
If South Africa is found guilty, the points from their win over Lesotho could be overturned, tightening the Group C standings.
Should FIFA impose a sanction, Bafana Bafana would retain their lead but with a significantly reduced margin, keeping Nigeria and Lesotho firmly in contention for qualification.
The final decision could have major implications for South Africa’s World Cup campaign.
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