World football governing body (FIFA) has officially opened disciplinary proceedings against the South African Football Association (SAFA) and Bafana Bafana midfielder Teboho Mokoena. Mokoena was fielded while under suspension in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier in which South Africa beat Lesotho 2–0 on March 21 in Polokwane. The 28-year-old midfielder had accumulated two yellow cards earlier in the qualifiers – first against Benin in November 2023 and then against Zimbabwe in June 2024 – which, under FIFA rules, triggered a one-match ban. The case has been referred to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, with SAFA and Mokoena given six days to submit their response as reported by South African state broadcaster SABC on Thursday. In a letter sent to SAFA dated September 15 FIFA confirmed that both the player and the association face charges of breaching several disciplinary regulations, including the fielding of an ineligible player. SAFA has yet to issue a public statement on the matter. If found guilty, South Africa could be forced to forfeit the result of the match, which would hand Lesotho a 3–0 victory on paper, while other sanctions such as fines or suspensions could also be imposed. Lesotho, meanwhile, will find their tally bumped up from six points to nine, but will remain in fifth position, two points behind third-placed Nigeria and fourth-placed Rwanda on 11 points each. South Africa will have to beat Zimbabwe and Rwanda in their final two qualifiers in October, provided Benin do not slip up against Amavubi and the Super Eagles, who will have to win both of their remaining matches and hope Bafana slip up in either or both of their fixtures.
