Teboho Mokoena getting special protection? He plays for the CAF President’s country and club, Mamelodi Sundowns
By Kunle Solaja
The controversy surrounding South Africa’s use of an ineligible player in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers has taken a new twist, with even South Africans now urging FIFA to deliver a ruling.
At the heart of the dispute is midfielder Teboho Mokoena, who was fielded in Bafana Bafana’s 2-0 win over Lesotho in Polokwane last March despite being suspended after picking up two yellow cards earlier in the campaign.
While South Africa admitted the blunder, FIFA has yet to make a decision on possible sanctions — six months later. But the football governing body has made decisions on infractions committed in June in other continents of South America, Europe and Asia while turning the blind eye to that of Africa.
The African football confederation is being led by a South African, thus fueling suspicions. Teboho Mokoena, the offending player also features for Mamelodi Sundowns, a club owned by the CAF president.
Writing in South African newspaper, Sowetan, sports editor Nkareng Matshe argued that FIFA’s silence risks tarnishing what has otherwise been an impressive qualifying run by Bafana Bafana.
“We have already admitted to the error, and precedence dictates that we be punished and stripped of three points,” Matshe wrote.
“FIFA’s delay in making a ruling should not be treated as a cause for celebration. It only fuels conspiracy theories and unfairly smears the team.”
Matshe noted that Hugo Broos’s side, buoyed by their 2023 AFCON bronze medal finish, have matured into genuine contenders and could still qualify even if docked points.
“Bafana don’t need FIFA’s helping hand to qualify. They are strong enough to get over the line on merit,” he insisted.
But critics elsewhere in Group C including Nigeria, Rwanda, Benin and Lesotho argue that FIFA’s inaction has distorted the standings and created unnecessary tension. Benin’s coach Gernot Rohr told Reuters this week:
“It is not normal that we don’t know the situation about the points on the log table before our games. Normally, South Africa should lose three points. FIFA should now very quickly give the decision.”
Rohr knows the precedent well: as Nigeria coach in 2018, his team forfeited a point after fielding suspended defender Shehu Abdullahi in a qualifier against Algeria.
Under FIFA’s disciplinary code, teams that field ineligible players forfeit the match, with opponents awarded a 3-0 win unless the original result was more advantageous.
South Africa, however, have argued that since Lesotho did not lodge a protest, the points should stand.
As it is, Bafana top the group with 17 points, three clear of the second-placed Benin and six above that of Nigeria in the third position.
A points deduction would slash that margin, potentially flipping the table and leaving the qualification race wide open with two matches to play.
The uncertainty has cast a shadow over a crucial October fixtures, with South Africa set to ‘host’ eliminated Zimbabwe in what should have been an home match to the latter, thus adding to the unfair play.
The Nigerian Football Federation has echoed the growing frustration, with the communication director, Dr. Ademola Olajire being quoted by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the federation was still awaiting FIFA’s decision.
For now, the giant question mark lingers. South Africa’s dream of a first World Cup appearance since 2010 remains alive — but so too does the cloud of controversy over Mokoena’s ineligible appearance.
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