The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has sanctioned the South African Football Association (SAFA) for fielding an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, during the 2026 FIFA World Cup preliminary qualifier against Lesotho on March 21, 2025.
The decision, announced on FIFA’s official website on Monday, September 29, 2025, found SAFA guilty of breaching Article 19 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code and Article 14 of the Preliminary Competition Regulations.
As punishment, FIFA declared the match forfeited, awarding Lesotho a 3–0 victory, regardless of the original result.
In addition, SAFA was fined CHF 10,000 (about ₦18.4 million), while Mokoena — who was deemed ineligible to play — received an official warning.
FIFA stated: “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.”
The football governing body further explained that SAFA and the player were notified of the decision and given 10 days to request a motivated ruling, which would subsequently be published on FIFA’s legal website. The ruling remains open to appeal before the FIFA Appeal Committee.
Implications for South Africa
The ruling is a significant blow to South Africa’s qualification hopes, as the forfeiture hands Lesotho three valuable points in the World Cup qualifying group. Analysts warn this could complicate Bafana Bafana’s path to the 2026 tournament.
Sipho Khumalo, a Johannesburg-based sports analyst, described the development as “an embarrassing lapse in administrative diligence.”
“This is not about the player’s performance, but about governance. SAFA’s oversight has cost the team crucial points in a tight qualification race,” he said.
Lesotho’s football federation is yet to issue an official response, but the decision is likely to boost the nation’s confidence in a qualifying campaign where every point is decisive.
For now, SAFA faces the difficult task of regrouping both administratively and competitively, while considering whether to pursue an appeal.
