Bafana Bafana could forfeit a 2-0 victory over Lesotho after midfielder Teboho Mokoena played while ineligible, jeopardizing their 2026 World Cup campaign.
FIFA has launched a formal investigation into the South African national team for allegedly fielding a suspended player during a recent World Cup qualifier. The charge centers on midfielder Teboho Mokoena, who played the full match in a 2-0 win over Lesotho on March 21st when he should have been serving a one-match ban for accumulated yellow cards.
The potential oversight carries severe consequences. If found guilty, South Africa will automatically forfeit the match 3-0, losing three critical points in their qualifying group. The team would also face a fine of at least 6,000 Swiss Francs (approx. R132,000).
The error places South Africa’s entire World Cup campaign in peril. A forfeit would drastically reduce their point total, making qualification for the 2026 tournament an even steeper challenge and transforming their remaining fixtures into must-win games.
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