FIFA has made a big decision about Bafana Bafana midfielder Teboho Mokoena. South Africa’s national team is in trouble after using him in a game where he should not have played.
The issue started after South Africa’s 2-0 win against Lesotho in March 2025. Teboho Mokoena was on the field, but he was supposed to be suspended because he had already picked up two yellow cards in earlier FIFA World Cup qualifiers—one against Benin in November 2023 and another against Zimbabwe in June 2024.
Lesotho complained to FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee, and after reviewing the case, FIFA ruled that South Africa had fielded an ineligible player.
Because of this, FIFA gave the win to Lesotho with a 3-0 scoreline. South Africa’s football body, SAFA, was also ordered to pay a fine of CHF 10,000 (about R216,000). Mokoena only received a warning but no extra ban.
FIFA said South Africa had broken Article 19 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code as well as rules from the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers.
This decision hurts South Africa’s chances of reaching the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The national team is now tied with Benin on 14 points in Group C but falls to second place because of goal difference. They also lose the three-point lead they had built earlier.
Both SAFA and the Lesotho Football Association have been told about the decision. SAFA has 10 days to ask for a full explanation, which could lead to an appeal.
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Coach Hugo Broos and his players now face two big games: Zimbabwe on October 10 and Rwanda on October 14.
If Bafana Bafana wants to keep their dream of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup alive, they must recover quickly and win these matches.
By fielding an ineligible player, South Africa’s national team not only had to pay a fine, but they also risk missing out on the World Cup. The spotlight is now on Bafana Bafana midfielder Teboho Mokoena and how the team responds in their upcoming games.
