NFF seeks to strip South Africa of win over Lesotho for fielding ineligible player

By: Dayo Awoniyi

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has launched an official complaint against South Africa, alleging that the Bafana Bafana fielded an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, in their 2-0 victory over Lesotho in the ongoing 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Mokoena was supposed to serve a one-match suspension after accumulating two yellow cards in previous qualifying fixtures.

Under the rules of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, a player who receives two yellow cards in separate matches must automatically be suspended for the team’s next game.

However, Mokoena participated in South Africa’s win over Lesotho, which could now result in the team losing three points and three goals, effectively dropping them to seven points in the group standings.

An NFF board member confirmed that the federation is fully aware of the situation and has initiated internal proceedings to address the matter. The NFF is pushing for FIFA to review the case and impose the standard sanction for fielding an ineligible player, which is typically a three-point deduction.

The NFF’s move could significantly alter the qualification dynamics in Group G, potentially benefiting Nigeria, who are currently four points behind South Africa in the standings.

With the potential for a points deduction, Nigeria could close the gap and remain in contention for the top spot.

This situation echoes a similar incident during the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, when Nigeria was penalized for fielding Shehu Abdullahi, who was also suspended, in a match against Algeria.

Despite a 1-1 draw on the pitch, Nigeria was handed a 3-0 loss, losing the point earned during the game.

As the legal proceedings unfold, the NFF’s actions could have major implications for the Super Eagles’ World Cup hopes, depending on how FIFA rules on the matter.