South African football has been dealt a crushing blow after FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee ruled that Bafana Bafana must forfeit their 2-0 victory over Lesotho in March’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier. The sanction stems from the administrative failure by SAFA to notice that midfielder Teboho Mokoena had accumulated two yellow cards, which should have ruled him out of the fixture.
Instead, Mokoena featured for 82 minutes in the 21 March clash, a decision now deemed an ineligible fielding of a suspended player. FIFA has awarded Lesotho a 3-0 win, fined SAFA CHF 10,000 (approx. R200,000), and issued Mokoena with an official warning.
Oversight with Costly Consequences
The spotlight now firmly falls on SAFA’s administration. Yellow card suspensions are among the most basic checks in international competition, yet the Association failed to flag Mokoena’s bookings against Benin (Nov 2023) and Zimbabwe (Nov 2024).
This lapse not only undermines South Africa’s qualification push but also raises questions about internal processes at the Association. Such mistakes have precedent in African football — Ethiopia (2013) and Nigeria (2017) were both punished for similar offences — but SAFA’s failure to catch the error before FIFA intervened has left fans disillusioned.
SAFA’s Response
In its statement, SAFA expressed “deep disappointment” at the ruling, claiming the case was decided by a single-member panel without reasons and that the Association was not afforded the chance to make legal arguments.
The governing body confirmed it has requested written reasons for the decision and will lodge a formal appeal to FIFA’s Appeals Committee within 10 days.
“We apologise to the nation for this administrative oversight and will reflect on the steps to take at the conclusion of our qualifying campaign,” SAFA said, urging South Africans to rally behind the team despite the controversy.
What It Means for Bafana Bafana
The ruling significantly reshapes Group C of the CAF World Cup qualifiers. Instead of leading the group, South Africa now finds themselves level on points with rivals Nigeria and Rwanda, with Benin overtaking as leaders.
The final two fixtures against Zimbabwe (10 October, Moses Mabhida Stadium) and Rwanda (14 October, Mbombela Stadium) are now effectively must-win encounters.
⚖️ The Sanctions at a Glance
- Match Forfeited: South Africa 0–3 Lesotho
- Fine: CHF 10,000 (approx. R200,000)
- Player: Teboho Mokoena – issued with a warning
- Appeal: SAFA intends to appeal within 10 days
🔥 Diskiafrika Take: This is more than just a fine and a lost match — it’s a dent to SAFA’s credibility. In a qualification campaign where every point is priceless, a basic oversight has placed Hugo Broos’ men under avoidable pressure. With two massive fixtures left, Bafana Bafana must now deliver on the pitch while SAFA fights to salvage its reputation off it.