A mistake that could cost three points? Sanctions for South Africa in doubt

The South African Football Association (SAFA) may avoid repercussions for fielding a suspended player

Details: The incident involving Bafana Bafana midfielder Teboho Mokoena, which took place in March during the World Cup qualifier against Lesotho, may go unpunished for South Africa.

The Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder took to the pitch in a FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier against Lesotho, despite having picked up two yellow cards in previous qualifiers against Benin and Zimbabwe, which should have led to an automatic suspension.

The CAF secretariat plays a vital role in informing match officials about suspended players during pre-match meetings with officials and team representatives. In the case of the South Africa vs. Lesotho match, this procedure was not followed, and it was unknown that Mokoena was automatically suspended.

Mokoena’s presence on the field escaped the notice of both CAF representatives and the teams involved.

It is reported that two days after the match, the Nigerian Football Federation alerted Lesotho officials about this critical oversight. Nevertheless, neither Lesotho nor Nigeria submitted an official protest to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) or FIFA regarding the incident.

The protest window has closed, as appeals submitted after the deadline are unlikely to be considered. However, both countries remain optimistic, as FIFA has previously sanctioned offenders even in the absence of formal complaints.

For the record, after six rounds of World Cup qualifying, South Africa leads the group with 13 points. Rwanda and Benin follow in the standings, each with 8 points.

See also: South Africa vs. Zimbabwe: When and where to watch the COSAFA Cup match online