Bafana Bafana could be docked three points for fielding an ineligible player (Teboho Mokoena) in their match against Lesotho last week.
Bafana midfielder Mokoena was booked in their opening World Cup qualifier match against Benin in 2023, and the fourth qualifier against Zimbabwe last year. The Mamelodi Sundowns star was presumably supposed to serve a one-match ban against Lesotho however, he featured against Likuena.
On Tuesday, the Lesotho Football Association (LFA) confirmed it had sent a query to Fifa.
Teboho Mokoena’s yellow to cost Bafana?
“The question is, was a rule broken? If yes, we are fully entitled to protest and get the points. We were made aware of Mokoena’s bookings and we have since sent a formal inquiry to CAF and Fifa,” said LFA secretary-general Mokhosi Mohapi as per Sowetanlive.
“We have heard that Nigeria also want to protest and they too are entitled to that because the result (last Friday) prejudices everyone. Suppose it was us who fielded a defaulter and got the points, Bafana would have done the same.”
Teboho Mokoena was not fielded in Bafana’s match against Benin on Tuesday. The South African Football Association has yet to respond to the matter.
FIFA rules for the 2026 World Cup preliminary stage stated that a player who receives a second yellow card in the qualifying should miss the next qualification match.
“If players or team officials receive two cautions in one match … or in two different matches of the competition, they will be automatically suspended from their team’s subsequent match.”
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