Super Eagles Get World Cup Hope Alive as FIFA Punishes South Africa Over Player Scandal.
According to a report from BBC, South Africa’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have been dealt a major setback after the country’s football association (SAFA) was sanctioned for fielding an ineligible player in the qualifiers.
The FIFA Disciplinary Committee ruled that midfielder Teboho Mokoena, who had accumulated two yellow cards in earlier matches and was due to serve a one-match suspension, was wrongly included in South Africa’s 2-0 win over Lesotho on March 21.
His participation was deemed a violation of Article 19 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code and Article 14 of the 2026 World Cup Preliminary Competition Regulations.
In its decision announced on Monday, September 29, FIFA declared the match forfeited, awarding Lesotho a 3-0 victory.
SAFA was also fined CHF 10,000, while Mokoena received a formal warning. “The forfeiture decision remains subject to a potential appeal before the FIFA Appeal Committee,” FIFA said in a statement, per Africa Soccer.
The ruling significantly alters the group standings, with Benin Republic now leading on 14 points (+4 goal difference), ahead of South Africa, also on 14 points but with an inferior goal difference (+3).
Nigeria follows with 11 points (+2), Rwanda also has 11 (0), Lesotho sits on 9 (-3), and Zimbabwe trails with 4 (-6).
With only the group winner guaranteed an automatic ticket to the World Cup and the runner-up possibly advancing via inter-confederation play-offs, the October fixtures will be decisive in determining South Africa’s fate.
According to a report from BBC, South Africa’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have been dealt a major setback after the country’s football association (SAFA) was sanctioned for fielding an ineligible player in the qualifiers.
The FIFA Disciplinary Committee ruled that midfielder Teboho Mokoena, who had accumulated two yellow cards in earlier matches and was due to serve a one-match suspension, was wrongly included in South Africa’s 2-0 win over Lesotho on March 21.
His participation was deemed a violation of Article 19 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code and Article 14 of the 2026 World Cup Preliminary Competition Regulations.
In its decision announced on Monday, September 29, FIFA declared the match forfeited, awarding Lesotho a 3-0 victory.
SAFA was also fined CHF 10,000, while Mokoena received a formal warning. “The forfeiture decision remains subject to a potential appeal before the FIFA Appeal Committee,” FIFA said in a statement, per Africa Soccer.
The ruling significantly alters the group standings, with Benin Republic now leading on 14 points (+4 goal difference), ahead of South Africa, also on 14 points but with an inferior goal difference (+3).
Nigeria follows with 11 points (+2), Rwanda also has 11 (0), Lesotho sits on 9 (-3), and Zimbabwe trails with 4 (-6).
With only the group winner guaranteed an automatic ticket to the World Cup and the runner-up possibly advancing via inter-confederation play-offs, the October fixtures will be decisive in determining South Africa’s fate.
Super Eagles Get World Cup Hope Alive as FIFA Punishes South Africa Over Player Scandal.
According to a report from BBC, South Africa’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have been dealt a major setback after the country’s football association (SAFA) was sanctioned for fielding an ineligible player in the qualifiers.
The FIFA Disciplinary Committee ruled that midfielder Teboho Mokoena, who had accumulated two yellow cards in earlier matches and was due to serve a one-match suspension, was wrongly included in South Africa’s 2-0 win over Lesotho on March 21.
His participation was deemed a violation of Article 19 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code and Article 14 of the 2026 World Cup Preliminary Competition Regulations.
In its decision announced on Monday, September 29, FIFA declared the match forfeited, awarding Lesotho a 3-0 victory.
SAFA was also fined CHF 10,000, while Mokoena received a formal warning. “The forfeiture decision remains subject to a potential appeal before the FIFA Appeal Committee,” FIFA said in a statement, per Africa Soccer.
The ruling significantly alters the group standings, with Benin Republic now leading on 14 points (+4 goal difference), ahead of South Africa, also on 14 points but with an inferior goal difference (+3).
Nigeria follows with 11 points (+2), Rwanda also has 11 (0), Lesotho sits on 9 (-3), and Zimbabwe trails with 4 (-6).
With only the group winner guaranteed an automatic ticket to the World Cup and the runner-up possibly advancing via inter-confederation play-offs, the October fixtures will be decisive in determining South Africa’s fate.
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