World Cup Hopes in Jeopardy: Bafana Bafana Face Sanctions Over Player Eligibility Blunder

World Cup Hopes in Jeopardy: Bafana Bafana Face Sanctions Over Player Eligibility Blunder

By Admin 

South Africa's 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign has been thrown into uncertainty following a potential administrative error involving key midfielder Teboho Mokoena. Reports indicate that Bafana Bafana could be docked three critical points after fielding Mokoena in their recent 2–0 win over Lesotho, despite his apparent suspension due to card accumulation.

According to sources familiar with the situation, Mokoena received yellow cards in South Africa’s opening match against Benin and again in Matchday 4 against Zimbabwe — bookings that, under FIFA’s disciplinary rules, should have resulted in a one-match suspension. Despite this, Mokoena was named in the starting XI for Matchday 5 against Lesotho, potentially rendering him ineligible for that fixture.

Should the infraction be confirmed, South Africa could forfeit the victory, with FIFA likely to award a 3–0 win to Lesotho. This would reduce Bafana Bafana’s tally from 13 to 10 points, drastically narrowing their lead in Group C. Currently, South Africa sits five points ahead of Rwanda and Benin, and six ahead of Nigeria. A deduction would reignite a highly competitive race for the group’s top spot — the only automatic qualification slot for the 2026 World Cup.

An internal source emphasized the need for focus amid the looming setback. “The mistake is unfortunate, but dwelling on it won’t help. We have to move forward and focus on winning the remaining matches. Qualification is still within reach,” the source said.

The incident is expected to prompt deeper scrutiny of the South African Football Association (SAFA), with many questioning how such an oversight could occur during a high-stakes campaign. While neither FIFA nor SAFA has issued an official statement, multiple insiders suggest a formal announcement could be imminent.

As pressure mounts and supporters await clarity, Bafana Bafana’s path to a first World Cup appearance since hosting the tournament in 2010 has become far more precarious. With vital matches still ahead, every point will now be fought for with renewed urgency.