By Mbah Emmanuel Nnaemeka
World football governing body FIFA has sanctioned the South African Football Association (SAFA) after midfielder Teboho Mokoena was deemed ineligible in a World Cup qualifier against Lesotho.
The FIFA Disciplinary Committee ruled on Monday that SAFA violated Article 19 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code and Article 14 of the 2026 World Cup Preliminary Competition Regulations, overturning the result of the March 21, 2025, clash.
The ruling awards Lesotho a 3-0 victory, regardless of the scoreline on the day. SAFA has also been fined CHF 10,000 (approximately ₦18.5m), while Mokoena received a formal warning.
FIFA confirmed that SAFA has 10 days to request the full written grounds of the decision and may lodge an appeal with the FIFA Appeal Committee.
The decision is a significant blow to South Africa’s qualification hopes, while Lesotho gains a crucial boost in their Group standings.
This ruling adds to the long list of disciplinary cases in African World Cup qualifiers, where player eligibility issues have repeatedly shaped the race to the finals.
