FIFA Investigates SAFA Over Teboho Mokoena’s Eligibility In World Cup Qualifier

Bafana Bafana’s road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup has been thrown into turmoil after world football’s governing body officially opened a disciplinary case against the South African Football Association (SAFA) and star midfielder Teboho Mokoena.

At the heart of the matter is South Africa’s 2–0 victory over Lesotho in Polokwane back in March, a win that could now be overturned if FIFA rules that Mokoena should not have taken the field.

The Suspension At The Centre Of The Storm

According to FIFA regulations, two yellow cards in separate qualifying matches trigger an automatic one-match suspension. Mokoena, now 28, picked up bookings against Benin in November 2023 and Zimbabwe in June 2024. On that basis, he should have sat out the Lesotho clash.

Instead, he played a full role in helping Hugo Broos’ side claim three crucial points, only for FIFA to later confirm in a letter dated 15 September 2025 that both SAFA and the player now face charges of fielding an ineligible footballer.

The case has been referred to FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee, and SAFA has just six days to mount a defence.

What’s At Stake For Bafana Bafana

The potential fallout is massive. Should the result be overturned, Lesotho would be awarded a 3–0 victory on paper. That would cut Bafana’s cushion at the top of their qualifying group and throw the race wide open.

South Africa would still remain first on goal difference, tied on 14 points with Benin, but the margin for error heading into their final two qualifiers against Zimbabwe and Rwanda would shrink dramatically. Lesotho, meanwhile, would climb to nine points, adding even more intrigue to an already tense campaign.

Local Reaction And Silence From SAFA

On social media, the reaction has been swift and unforgiving. Some fans expressed disbelief that such an administrative oversight could occur at this level, with one supporter tweeting, “How can SAFA forget something so basic? This could cost us the World Cup.” Others, however, defended Mokoena, arguing that players often aren’t fully aware of their disciplinary records and rely on their associations to handle the details.

For now, SAFA has yet to issue a public statement, a silence that has only fuelled speculation.

A Familiar Headache In African Football

Cases like this are not uncommon in African football, where administrative slip-ups have, in the past, derailed teams’ progress in major tournaments. For South Africa, which has been rebuilding under Broos with genuine hope of returning to the World Cup stage, the timing could not be worse.

If found guilty, the consequences could extend beyond the group table. Fines, suspensions, or further sanctions may follow, putting additional pressure on a side already walking a tightrope in their qualifying campaign.

What’s Next

With two crunch qualifiers coming up in October, Bafana must keep their focus while SAFA scrambles to defend itself in Zurich. If the case goes against them, every point will matter and South African fans will be left wondering how a paperwork oversight, rather than performances on the pitch, ended up shaping their World Cup dream.

{Source:SABC Sports}

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