Nigeria’s Super Eagles have received a major boost in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign after world football governing body, FIFA, deducted three points from South Africa for fielding an ineligible player.
In a ruling announced on Monday, FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee sanctioned the South African Football Association (SAFA) for using midfielder Teboho Mokoena in their 21 March 2025 clash against Lesotho, despite his ineligibility.
According to the decision, South Africa has forfeited the match 3–0 in favour of Lesotho. In addition, three goals have been deducted from Bafana Bafana’s tally, while SAFA has been fined CHF 10,000. Mokoena was also issued a formal warning.
FIFA stated:
“The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has sanctioned the South African Football Association (SAFA) for having fielded an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, in the South Africa v. Lesotho match played on 21 March 2025 in the FIFA World Cup 2026™ preliminary competition, thereby breaching article 19 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC) and article 14 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Preliminary Competition Regulations.”
The ruling, which can still be appealed to the FIFA Appeal Committee, leaves SAFA with ten days to request a motivated decision.
Before the sanction, South Africa led Group C with 17 points from eight matches. Following the deduction, they drop to second place behind Benin Republic, while Nigeria, sitting third, sees its qualification hopes revived.
The group is now finely poised heading into the final round of fixtures. South Africa will face Zimbabwe and Rwanda, Benin will play Rwanda and Nigeria, while the Super Eagles take on Lesotho before clashing with Benin in October.
With the latest development, the top four teams in Group C now have a realistic chance of securing qualification to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, making the remaining matches decisive and highly competitive.
