By Mark Ogagan
A top source at the South African Football Association (SAFA) says “there’s no cause for alarm” after it emerged that the country may suffer points deduction after fielding an ineligible player in last week’s World Cup qualifier against Lesotho in Polokwane
There were concerns regarding the potential derailment of Bafana Bafana‘s 2026 World Cup campaign due to Teboho Mokoena’s participation despite carrying two yellow cards prior to the match against Lesotho.
Mokoena (Pictured), was booked during Bafana’s 2-1 victory over Benin in their Group C opener in Durban on November 18, 2023, and again in the 3-1 win against Zimbabwe in Bloemfontein on June 11, 2024. The Mamelodi Sundowns star featured in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers in between the two World Cup qualifier games.
This means he should have been suspended for Bafana’s 2-0 win over Lesotho at Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Friday, a victory that propelled Bafana to the top of Group C with 10 points.
However, the SAFA official clarified the true position, emphasising that Lesotho’s failure to file a protest within the stipulated 24-hours deadline has virtually put South Africa in the clear.
“Teboho Mokoena was officially suspended for the game in question ,but was fielded as an oversight. However, Lesotho did not file a protest within the stipulated 24 hours time frame, and that, fortunately, puts us in the clear,” she stated.
According to the FIFA disciplinary code, under carrying over cautions, it is clear that “if a person receives a caution in two separate matches of the same FIFA competition, they are automatically suspended from the next match in that competition.” This means Mokoena should have played no part in the Lesotho game.
It further states, “Cautions received during one competition are not carried over to another competition.” This indicates that the 28-year-old’s yellow cards could not have been carried over to the AFCON qualifiers.
However, “protests must reach the Disciplinary Committee in writing, indicating the relevant grounds, within 24 hours of the end of the match in question. The 24-hour time limit cannot be extended. For the sake of the smooth running of the competition, the corresponding competition regulations may shorten the protest deadline accordingly.”
A protest is admissible only if it is based on: “an ineligible player’s participation in a match as a consequence of that player not fulfilling the conditions defined in the relevant FIFA regulations.”
Under fielding an ineligible player, the FIFA code says its judicial body “may impose any appropriate disciplinary measures” when a player is fielded while ineligible.
It remains uncertain whether FIFA can take action without a protest from Lesotho, which was not filed.
South Africa opened up a five-points gap at the top of Group C on Tuesday after beating Benin 2-0 in Abidjan.
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