2026 WCQ: South Africa Risk Points Deduction For Fielding Ineligible Player

South Africa’s road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup has hit a potential roadblock following a yellow-card controversy surrounding midfielder Teboho Mokoena.

According to majic828.co.za, reports,Mokoena may have been ineligible to play in Bafana Bafana’s matchday 5 clash against Lesotho, which could significantly affect the team’s chances of qualifying.
Mokoena received a yellow card in their matchday 1 against Benin (MD1) and another in the following match against Zimbabwe.

According to FIFA’s regulations, a player who accumulates two yellow cards in separate matches must serve a one-match suspension. This means Mokoena should not have featured in the Lesotho encounter.
Despite the clear rules, Mokoena was included in the starting line-up for the matchday 5 match against Lesotho, playing 81 minutes before being substituted.

If the reports are confirmed, this could be a violation of FIFA’s qualification regulations, and South Africa may face a points deduction for fielding an ineligible player.

Currently, Bafana top Group C with 13 points, following a 2-0 win over Benin Republic on Yesterday.

The issue stems from FIFA’s World Cup Qualifiers Rulebook, specifically sub-section 9, which clearly states that a player who receives two yellow cards in separate matches must serve a one-match suspension.

If the suspension rule is applied and Mokoena’s eligibility is found to be invalid, South Africa could lose the three points from their 2-0 win over Lesotho.