Benin coach questions governing body’s delay after Bafana Bafana field ineligible player, creating confusion ahead of decisive qualifiers.
A cloud of confusion hangs over Africa’s World Cup qualifiers just days before a critical round of matches, as FIFA’s silence on South Africa’s use of an ineligible player leaves competing nations in limbo.
The controversy stems from South Africa’s 2-0 win over Lesotho in March. Bafana Bafana, has admitted they mistakenly fielded midfielder Teboho Mokoena, who should have been serving a suspension for accumulating two yellow cards in earlier Group C games.
South African officials were reportedly “severely embarrassed” upon discovering the error. They argue that because Lesotho did not formally protest the match, they should not be punished. “We did something bad, we did something we shouldn’t do, but there was no complaint,” said South Africa coach Hugo Broos.
However, FIFA’s own disciplinary code allows its administration to initiate proceedings independently of any team protest. The global governing body has a history of sanctioning countries for the exact same offence.
This precedent is well-known to Gernot Rohr, the coach of Benin, who currently sits second behind South Africa in the group standings. Rohr was managing Nigeria in 2018 when they were stripped of a point for fielding a suspended player against Algeria.
“It is not normal that we don’t know the situation about the points before our games this week,” Rohr stated. “It is very, very strange. Normally, SA should lose three points… But nobody knows why they [FIFA] did not take this decision.”
The uncertainty throws the entire group into disarray. With the win still counting, South Africa leads with 13 points. They are five points clear of Rwanda and Benin and six ahead of Nigeria, whom they host next Tuesday in a potentially decisive match. First, they face Lesotho again this Friday.
The teams fighting for qualification are demanding answers. The Nigerian Football Federation this week declared, “The world still awaits FIFA’s decision.” Echoing the sentiment, Coach Rohr added, “FIFA should now very quickly give the decision.”
For now, all teams can do is wait and wonder if the standings are real, or if a FIFA ruling could completely reshape the path to the 2026 World Cup.
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