The South African Football Association is currently under investigation by FIFA for allegedly fielding an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, during a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier.
SAFA CEO Lydia Monyepao confirmed that the association received official communication from FIFA regarding the matter.
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“We have received communication from FIFA about the investigation they have launched in terms of the Lesotho match that Teboho Mokoena was fielded, we received it yesterday,” Monyepao said as quoted by iDiski Times.
Details of the Investigation
The controversy stems from Bafana Bafana’s 2-0 victory over Lesotho, a match in which Teboho Mokoena played despite being suspended due to an accumulation of yellow cards. Although Lesotho did not file an official protest within the 48-hour window, FIFA has launched its own investigation, citing a precedent for taking action on such matters.
Should FIFA find Bafana Bafana guilty, the team is likely to be docked three points and the 2-0 win could be overturned into a 3-0 defeat. This would have a significant negative impact on their goal difference.
SAFA’s Response and Outlook
“So we’re preparing our response to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee which is ultimately required of us as an association…”, Lydia Monyepao stated.
Despite the potential for a points deduction, SAFA remains optimistic.
“Look we’re not really worried about that, I think our focus right now is to ensure Bafana Bafana gets maximum points, come October, because whatever happens, whether there is docking of points or whatever, if we get six points come October, nothing else matters,” she added.
“It’s all about Bafana Bafana getting to USA, Mexico and Canada [in the FIFA World Cup] in 2026.”
The potential points deduction could see Benin move to the top of the group on goal difference, but if Bafana Bafana secures positive results in their final two matches, they could still secure qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.