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Nigeria’s path to the 2026 FIFA World Cup has been handed a dramatic twist after FIFA stripped South Africa of three points for fielding an ineligible player, Footynaija.com reports.
Teboho Mokoena featured in Bafana Bafana’s 2-0 win over Lesotho on March 21 despite being suspended, a breach that has now proved costly.
In a ruling on Monday, FIFA declared the match forfeited, awarding Lesotho a 3-0 victory.
In its statement, FIFA said: “The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has sanctioned the South African Football Association (SAFA) for having fielded an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, in the South Africa v. Lesotho match played on 21 March 2025 in the FIFA World Cup 2026 preliminary competition, thereby breaching article 19 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code and article 14 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Preliminary Competition Regulations. Consequently, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has declared the match in question to have been forfeited by the representative team of South Africa by a score of 3-0.”
South Africa were also fined CHF 10,000, while Mokoena received a formal warning. SAFA have ten days to appeal.
The ruling reshapes Group C. Benin become leaders with 14 points and a +4 goal difference, just ahead of South Africa, who now also sit on 14 but with +3. Nigeria and Rwanda trail on 11 apiece, the Super Eagles edging second place thanks to superior goal difference.
For Nigeria, it is a lifeline. With fixtures against Benin at home and Lesotho away still to come, two wins could yet deliver World Cup redemption after their painful miss in 2022.
