Bafana Bafana Faces Fine Over Player Eligibility, Not Points Loss

The South African Football Association (SAFA) Will Likely Be Fined Rather Than Deducted Points

According to a source, SAFA is preparing its defense for FIFA regarding Teboho Mokoena’s participation in a March qualifier against Lesotho. The worst-case scenario for SAFA appears to be a fine of up to $500,000, without any points deductions.

SAFA's defense will center on the challenges posed by a complex fixture schedule involving both World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers, which has complicated player record maintenance.

Mokoena had received two yellow cards—one in November 2023 and another in June 2024. However, intervening AFCON qualifiers contributed to confusion in the record-keeping process, as noted by a source: “The problem is that Bafana Bafana played World Cup qualifiers, and then they stopped. They then played the AFCON qualifiers, which were squeezed in three months, a different competition in the same year.”

A formal complaint regarding Mokoena’s ineligibility, reportedly from the Nigeria and Benin Football Associations, has led to a FIFA investigation.

Potential Consequences of a Points Deduction

If Bafana Bafana were to incur a three-point deduction and the match awarded to Lesotho as a 3-0 win, their current total of 17 points would fall to 14, placing them level with Benin, currently second in Group C. This would elevate Benin to the top of the group based on goal difference, despite Bafana's previous victories over them in qualifying matches.

This prospective deduction would open doors for Nigeria and Rwanda, currently in third and fourth with 11 points each. The ongoing match-up between these two teams could become essential in determining the group winner. For Bafana to secure an automatic World Cup spot, they must triumph in their upcoming games against Zimbabwe and Rwanda.

In the African qualifiers, only the top team from each group automatically qualifies for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Additionally, the four best second-placed teams will fight for a playoff position for another World Cup slot.

Achieving World Cup qualification could yield significant financial benefits for SAFA, with an immediate payment of at least $6 million from FIFA, similar to the 2022 finals.