FIFA Punishes South Africa Over Ineligible Player, Group C Blown Wide Open
FIFA has officially sanctioned the South African Football Association (SAFA) for fielding an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, in their 2026 World Cup qualifier against Lesotho.
👉 Sanctions Announced:
🟥 Match forfeited – Lesotho awarded a 3-0 win and 3 points
💸 SAFA fined CHF 10,000
⚠️ Teboho Mokoena receives a formal warning
This ruling has dramatically changed the dynamics of Group C, making the qualification race even tighter.
📊 Updated Group C Table:
1️⃣ 🇧🇯 Benin – 14 pts
2️⃣ 🇿🇦 South Africa – 14 pts
3️⃣ 🇳🇬 Nigeria – 11 pts
4️⃣ 🇷🇼 Rwanda – 11 pts
5️⃣ 🇱🇸 Lesotho – 9 pts
6️⃣ 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe – 4 pts
With just a few games left, Nigeria’s Super Eagles must now deliver in their remaining fixtures to keep qualification hopes alive. Fans are already doing the math as the group stands on a knife’s edge.
The road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup is now more unpredictable than ever.
