The points deduction for fielding a suspended player knocks the team out of first place with two games left.
In a dramatic twist that has stunned South African football, the national team has been stripped of a vital World Cup qualifying victory due to an “administrative oversight.” World governing body FIFA has overturned South Africa’s 2-1 win against Lesotho from March, ruling it a 3-0 loss by default because they fielded an ineligible player.
The decision, handed down on Monday, has immediate consequences, knocking Bafana Bafana off the top of their qualifying group with just two games remaining.
The error centers on midfielder Teboho Mokoena, who should have served a one-game suspension after receiving yellow cards in two previous matches. His appearance on the pitch against Lesotho, while unintended, violated FIFA rules.
The South African Football Association (SAFA) has announced it will appeal the ruling, expressing “deep disappointment” with the outcome. In a statement, the association apologized to the nation for the mistake but also highlighted a key grievance: they claim they were not given an opportunity to present their legal case to the FIFA judge who made the decision.
“We apologize to the nation for this administrative oversight and will reflect on the steps to take at the conclusion of our qualifying campaign,” SAFA said.
The appeal process will unfold under intense pressure, overlapping with the team’s final two crucial matches against Zimbabwe on October 10th and Rwanda four days later. SAFA plans to file a formal appeal once it receives the written reasons for FIFA’s verdict.
The ruling has completely reshuffled the group. Benin now leads on goal difference, level on points with South Africa. Nigeria and Rwanda are just three points behind, with every team having two games left to play. The stakes could not be higher; only the group winner will secure a direct ticket to the expanded 48-team 2026 World Cup in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
The team that finishes second will face a difficult path through a four-team African playoff in November, with the ultimate prize being a spot in a final intercontinental playoff next March. For a nation that has not qualified for the World Cup since hosting it in 2010, the fight to keep the dream alive has just become an uphill battle both on the field and in the courtroom.
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