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2026 World Cup Qualifiers: SAFA responds to FIFA sanction over ineligible player
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
The South African Football Association (SAFA) has responded to sanction issued by FIFA after the senior men’s national team midfielder Teboho Mokoena was deemed ineligible in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Lesotho on 21 March 2025.
In a ruling issued by FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee, the match was declared forfeited, awarding Lesotho a 3–0 victory. SAFA was also fined CHF 10,000, while Mokoena received a warning.
SAFA expressed its disappointment with the decision, describing it as “unprecedented” and noting that it was delivered by a single-member panel without providing reasons or giving the Association a chance to present its case. The Association has since requested the written grounds for the decision and confirmed its intention to appeal before the FIFA Appeals Committee within the required 10-day window.
Despite the ruling, SAFA stressed its continued backing of the national team. “Our players and technical team have worked extremely hard to reach this stage, and our focus remains on securing maximum points in the matches ahead,” the body said in a statement.
The Association also apologised to South Africans for the administrative error and promised to review its internal processes once the qualifying campaign concludes.
Bafana Bafana, who remain in contention for a World Cup spot, will next face Zimbabwe at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on 10 October, followed by a clash with Rwanda at Mbombela Stadium on 14 October.
