South Africa face potential points deduction, boosting Super Eagles’ World Cup hopes

By Monsurah Olatunji

Nigeria’s 2026 World Cup qualification campaign could be given a significant boost if FIFA sanctions South Africa for fielding an ineligible player in their recent match against Lesotho.

Currently leading their qualifying group with ten points, South Africa’s position is under scrutiny after the Bafana Bafana were accused of fielding midfielder Teboho Mokoena in their 2-0 victory over Lesotho on Friday.

Mokoena, who plays for Mamelodi Sundowns, should have been suspended due to accumulating two yellow cards in earlier qualifying fixtures.

The player had been booked in the 45th minute of South Africa’s 2-1 win over Benin and again in the 52nd minute of their 3-1 victory over Zimbabwe. According to FIFA regulations, a player who receives two yellow cards in separate matches within the same competition is automatically suspended for the team’s next fixture.

If FIFA finds South Africa guilty of the infraction, the usual sanction would involve a three-point deduction.

This would drastically alter the group standings, potentially lifting Nigeria, who currently trail South Africa by four points, closer to the top spot. Nigeria, despite a challenging qualification path, could benefit significantly from any points reduction handed to their rivals.

The situation recalls a similar instance in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, when Nigeria was penalized for fielding an ineligible player, Abdullahi Shehu, in a match against Algeria.

Despite a 1-1 draw on the pitch, Nigeria was handed a 3-0 technical loss, though they had already secured their qualification.

While FIFA has yet to release a formal statement regarding South Africa’s case, the potential for a points deduction has given Nigeria fresh hope in their quest to secure a spot in the 2026 World Cup.

As the group remains tightly contested, every point and potential sanction could have a significant impact on the Super Eagles’ chances.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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