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FIFA strips South Africa of win for fielding ineligible player, awards Lesotho 3-0.
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Benin now tops group, Nigeria handed fresh hope with two rounds left.
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SAFA fined, Mokoena warned, South Africa faces must-win games ahead.
South Africa’s chances of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup suffered a major setback after the world football governing body, FIFA, stripped them of a qualifying victory for fielding an ineligible player.
FIFA, in a statement on Monday, September 29, announced that South Africa’s 2-0 win over Lesotho in March has been overturned and awarded as a 3-0 victory to Lesotho.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the ruling drops South Africa from the top of their group, placing Benin in first position and boosting Nigeria’s chances of qualification with just two rounds of fixtures remaining.
According to FIFA, the South African Football Association (SAFA) breached article 19 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code and article 14 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Preliminary Competition Regulations by fielding midfielder Teboho Mokoena in the March 21 match.
“Consequently, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has declared the match in question to have been forfeited by the representative team of South Africa by a score of 3-0,” FIFA said.
In addition, SAFA has been fined CHF 10,000, while Mokoena was issued a warning. FIFA further noted that SAFA has ten days to request a motivated decision, which can then be appealed.
The error has drawn attention as Patrice Motsepe, South Africa’s most prominent football administrator, is both a FIFA vice president and the president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Motsepe is also the owner of Mamelodi Sundowns, the club side where Mokoena plays.
South Africa must now win their remaining matches against Zimbabwe on October 10 and Rwanda on October 14 to revive their hopes. Benin will face Rwanda before travelling to Nigeria, while the Super Eagles will also meet Lesotho.
Only the group winner secures an automatic ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, while the second-placed team advances to the African playoffs.
