FIFA ruling sees Bafana Bafana forfeit win – drop to second in Group C
FIFA has finally handed down its ruling on the eligibility dispute involving Bafana Bafana midfielder Teboho Mokoena, ending months of speculation about South Africa’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign.
FIFA opened the investigation into the matter following South Africa’s 2-0 triumph over Lesotho in March 2025. Mokoena, who was fielded in that match, was under an automatic suspension for accumulating two yellow cards in earlier qualifiers against Benin (November 2023) and Zimbabwe (June 2024).
SAFA later admitted the matter was an administrative oversight on their side. However, the Lesotho Football Association (LFA) without any hesitation, lodged a verbal protest and called for disciplinary action, while other Group C contenders, including Nigeria, closely followed the developments with hopes for a verdict that would revive their hopes for qualification.
Following the investigation, FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee has ruled that South Africa must forfeit the match, awarding Lesotho a 3-0 victory. In addition, SAFA has been fined CHF 10,000 (around R216,000), and Mokoena has received an official warning in addition.
The decision reshapes the Group C standings as Bafana Bafana, who initially sat three points clear after September’s qualifiers, now sit level with Benin on 14 points but slip to second place due to goal difference.
South Africa’s qualification hopes remain in balance, with crucial fixtures against Zimbabwe (October 10) and Rwanda (October 14) set to determine their fate.
“The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has sanctioned the South African Football Association (SAFA) for having fielded an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, in the South Africa v. Lesotho match played on 21 March 2025 in the FIFA World Cup 2026 preliminary competition, thereby breaching article 19 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC) and article 14 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Preliminary Competition Regulations,” FIFA wrote.
“The parties were notified of the terms of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee’s decision today. In accordance with the relevant provisions of the FDC, they have ten days in which to request a motivated decision, which, if requested, would subsequently be published on legal.fifa.com.
“The forfeiture decision remains subject to a potential appeal before the FIFA Appeal Committee.”