Bafana Bafana’s World Cup qualifying campaign has been clouded by controversy after fielding Teboho Mokoena in a match where he was technically ineligible. The 2-0 victory over Lesotho at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium five months ago looked like a step forward, but the midfielder’s appearance has since left South Africa vulnerable to potential disciplinary action from FIFA.
Mokoena had already received two yellow cards in earlier qualifiers against Zimbabwe and Benin, which should have ruled him out of facing Lesotho. By featuring him regardless, Bafana risked breaching FIFA’s disciplinary code, a breach that could see them stripped of the points earned.
FIFA’s Rulebook Leaves No Room for Error
According to FIFA’s regulations, if a team fields an ineligible player, whether due to suspension, registration issues, or nationality, the result is automatically overturned. The punishment is a 3-0 defeat, unless the actual result was even worse for the offending side.
Initially, South Africa’s relief came from Lesotho’s silence, as they did not lodge a complaint at the time. Yet the code stipulates automatic forfeiture, raising questions about why the matter has not been resolved months later. The uncertainty now leaves Group C wide open.
Pressure From Group Rivals
With Bafana currently sitting on 13 points, their fate hangs in the balance. Rivals Nigeria and Benin have reportedly been pushing FIFA to enforce sanctions, which would hand Lesotho three points and drastically change the group standings. Lesotho would leapfrog into second place, and Nigeria could find themselves with a clearer path to the top.
Benin coach Gernot Rohr, who has personal experience of such sanctions, has openly criticised FIFA for the delay. Back in 2018, his former team Nigeria were punished for fielding Shehu Abdullahi against Algeria, an error that cost them valuable qualifying points. Speaking this week, Rohr expressed disbelief that South Africa’s case has dragged on.
“It’s very strange,” he told Reuters. “Normally, South Africa should lose three points. Nobody understands why FIFA has not acted before we play these next matches.”
Hugo Broos Defends Teboho Mokoena
Bafana coach Hugo Broos has not shied away from admitting that fielding Mokoena was a mistake. However, he remains firm that the issue should not involve parties beyond Lesotho, who chose not to escalate it.
“We know Teboho shouldn’t have played, but Lesotho had the opportunity to challenge it and didn’t,” Broos said. “For Nigeria and Benin to put pressure now is unfair. It had nothing to do with them. FIFA must stick to the rules, and the rules say if no complaint was made, the result stands. Let’s prove things on the pitch.”
Crunch Fixtures Ahead
Bafana’s qualifying journey continues with back-to-back matches at the Free State Stadium. First, they face Lesotho again on Friday night, before hosting Nigeria in a high-stakes clash on Tuesday. These fixtures could define whether South Africa reaches their first World Cup since 2010, when they hosted the tournament.
Failure to win both games could see them overtaken at the top of the standings, especially if FIFA later decides to punish them for the Mokoena error. But victories, combined with favourable rulings, would put Bafana in pole position heading into the final two qualifiers next month.
The Stakes Couldn’t Be Higher
While the team remains focused on football, the off-field drama lingers ominously. A single administrative error could yet undo months of progress, handing rivals the advantage. South Africans will hope the matter is resolved swiftly — but until then, every goal and every point will feel like it comes with a shadow of uncertainty.
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