In a devastating blow for Nigeria and Benin Republic’s quest for a 2026 World Cup ticket, football’s governing body, FIFA has ruled out any disciplinary action against South Africa regarding allegations of fielding an ineligible player during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
This decision effectively extinguishes Nigeria’s hopes of benefiting from administrative sanctions within Group C.
In a statement released on Monday night, FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee confirmed that South Africa’s national team, Bafana Bafana, will face no sanctions concerning the eligibility of midfielder Teboho Mokoena, who was alleged to have been suspended due to yellow card accumulation ahead of their qualifying match against Lesotho in March.
The much-anticipated ruling concluded speculation and substantially boosted South Africa’s qualification campaign.
South Africa currently leads Group C of the African World Cup Qualifiers with 17 points after eight matches, four points ahead of the Benin Republic in second place with 14 points, while Nigeria sits third with 11 points, with only two matches remaining in the qualifying race.
A guilty verdict could have resulted in a 3-0 forfeiture, a three-point deduction, and potential fines—a scenario that would have dramatically altered the group standings.
Instead, the decision upholds South Africa’s result in the controversial match, allowing them to keep all points earned and maintain a strong position in their pursuit of World Cup qualification from Group C.
For Nigeria’s Super Eagles, this outcome represents a considerable setback. The three-time African champions had been closely monitoring the proceedings, hopeful that a ruling against South Africa could have opened the door for a recalibration of the group standings in their favour.
With the Disciplinary Committee’s decision now final, Nigeria’s path to the 2026 World Cup has become significantly more challenging.
Following a 1-1 draw against South Africa last Tuesday in Bloemfontein, the Super Eagles now face mounting pressure to win their remaining matches while relying on other results to secure a playoff opportunity.
FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee oversees a wide array of issues, including player eligibility, on-field misconduct, and violations by federations and supporters.
The committee’s processes are thorough and often lengthy, with certain outcomes subject to appeal. While several nations have faced disciplinary action during the current qualification cycle, the scrutiny surrounding South Africa’s case was particularly intense due to its potential impact on the tightly contested Group C.
