FIFA Sanctions SAFA for Fielding Ineligible Player-FIFA Decision Reshapes Group C World Cup Qualifiers– Benin in Pole Position Over Bafana
World football governing body FIFA has officially sanctioned the South African Football Association (SAFA) after Bafana Bafana fielded midfielder Teboho Mokoena against Lesotho on 21 March 2025 during the 2026 FIFA World Cup™ preliminary competition.
Mokoena, who was due to serve a one-match suspension after accumulating two yellow cards, featured illegally in the fixture, breaching Article 19 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC) and Article 14 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Preliminary Competition Regulations.
Match Forfeited and Fine Imposed
The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has ruled that the match be forfeited 3–0 in favour of Lesotho. In addition, SAFA has been fined CHF 10,000 (US$12,500), while Mokoena himself received an official warning.
SAFA has ten days to request a motivated decision, which would be published on legal.fifa.com, and may still appeal the ruling to the FIFA Appeal Committee.
Impact on Group C Standings
The ruling significantly alters the CAF Group C qualification table, with Bafana Bafana dropping behind Benin. Only the group winner secures an automatic ticket to the World Cup, while the runner-up could enter the inter-confederation play-offs.
Updated Standings – CAF Group C (as of September 29, 2025)
The deduction means South Africa’s qualification path has become far more complicated, with Nigeria and Rwanda still within striking distance as the group heads into its decisive final fixtures.