South Africa has been stripped of three points in their World Cup qualifying campaign after FIFA’s disciplinary committee found them guilty of fielding an ineligible player, midfielder Teboho Mokoena. Mokoena had accumulated two yellow cards in previous Group C matches against Benin and Zimbabwe, making him ineligible to play in the match against Lesotho, which South Africa won 2-0 on March 21. However, due to Mokoena’s suspension, the victory has been overturned to a 3-0 defeat for South Africa.
This decision has significant implications for South Africa’s World Cup qualifying prospects, as they now trail behind Benin on goal difference, with both teams tied on 14 points with two games left to play. Only the group winners qualify directly for the World Cup, while the runners-up will have to go through a playoff process. The South African Football Association (SAFA) has been fined 10,000 Swiss francs ($12,536) and can still appeal the decision to the FIFA Appeals Committee.
The FIFA ruling has sparked criticism, with some questioning the delay in resolving the matter, which left teams uncertain about the standings before the last round of qualifiers. South Africa’s upcoming fixtures include matches against Zimbabwe and Rwanda, which will be crucial in determining their chances of qualifying for the World Cup.
