South Africa’s chances of reaching the 2026 World Cup have taken a big hit after FIFA stripped them of three points for using an ineligible player.
FIFA has ruled that South Africa must forfeit their 2-0 win over Lesotho from 21 March. The result has now been changed to a 3-0 win in favour of Lesotho. This decision drops South Africa’s points total in Group C from 17 to 14.
The deduction puts Bafana Bafana level on points with Benin, while Nigeria and Rwanda are now just three points behind. With two matches left, the group is wide open, and South Africa’s road to qualification has become much more difficult.
The punishment comes after midfielder Teboho Mokoena played in the match when he should have been suspended due to earlier yellow cards. This broke FIFA’s disciplinary and competition rules.
As well as the points loss, the South African Football Association (SAFA) was fined 10,000 Swiss francs, and Mokoena received a formal warning.
SAFA now has 10 days to request a full written explanation from FIFA and can still appeal the ruling.
Although SAFA hasn’t released an official response yet, the ruling has sparked criticism from other teams. Benin coach Gernot Rohr called the delay in FIFA’s decision “very, very strange.”
With the standings now tighter than ever, South Africa faces increased pressure in their final group games. One more slip-up could end their World Cup hopes.