FIFA Deducts Points From South Africa For Fielding Ineligible Player In World Cup Qualifier 

South Africa has been handed a 3-0 defeat by FIFA after fielding an ineligible player in their World Cup qualifying match against Lesotho.

The Bafana Bafana had originally secured a 2-0 victory on March 21 in Polokwane, but the result has now been overturned. The decision drops South Africa to second place in Group C of the African Zone qualifiers, behind Benin on goal difference, while Lesotho stays in fifth place.

FIFA’s disciplinary committee ruled that South Africa breached Article 19 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code by playing midfielder Teboho Mokoena, who had already accumulated two yellow cards in earlier matches against Benin and Zimbabwe.

As part of the sanctions, the South African Football Association has been fined 10,000 Swiss francs ($12,536).

However, the body still has the right to appeal the ruling before the FIFA Appeals Committee.

Following FIFA’s decision to deduct three points and three goals from South Africa for fielding an ineligible player, the Group C standings of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers have shifted.

With the sanction, Benin Republic now sits at the top of the table, while Nigeria’s chances of securing qualification have received a significant boost.

South Africa has dropped to second place on goal difference behind Benin. Lesotho, however, remains in fifth place.

The development leaves Nigeria with a clearer path in the group as the qualifiers continue, intensifying the race for a World Cup spot.

Get More of our proprietary news and analysis as MoneyCentral is now on WhatsApp Channels  Follow the MoneyCentral Nigeria channel on WhatsApp: Click here!