OGUN, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-Fédération Internationale de Football Association, FIFA has given Nigeria Super Eagles a potential World Cup lifeline after sanctioning South Africa for an offense since 2023.
Mokoena received two yellow cards. One against Benin on November 18th 2023 at the 54th minute. Another yellow at the 52nd minute on June 11th 2024 against Zimbabwe.
Apparently, according to FIFA regulations for the World Cup Preliminary Competition, if a player gets two yellow cards across different games, they are automatically suspended for the next game.
Between the game against Zimbabwe and Lesotho, Bafana Bafana played 10 non qualifiers games.
Fortunately for team like super eagles and unfortunately of course for the Bafana Bafana because they used Mokoena in their next World Cup Qualifiers game against Lesotho, which was played nearly a year later, on March 21st 2025.
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In that game, Mokoena played 82mins: 0 Assist, 0 Goals, 0 interceptions, 0 shots, 0 tackles, 0 clearance.. but, 2 chances created with 67 touches and lost the ball 15x. They however won 2-0.
As the tournament progressed with South Africa topping the table, other countries were forced to petition FIFA, questioning their integrity. Hence the walkover docking and Mokoena’s warning.
FIFA has now deducted 3 points and 3 goals from South Africa and issued them a $12,000 fine, for using an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena against Lesotho in their World Cup qualifiers on March 21st 2025.
However, South Africa has 10 days to appeal. Which would be an interesting sight. Because, the rule has been like this since 1998.
This sanction automatically drops South Africa to 2nd, Benin to the summit, separated by a goal difference. While Nigeria sits pretty at 3rd.
SA’s next game is away in Zimbabwe next month, 10th October 2025. Benin would try to keep the #1, SA would attempt a Ramota. While Nigeria attempts and audacious leapfrogging.
As it stands, South Africa still has a higher chance of going to America and Nigeria could contribute significantly by helping them defeat Genort Rohr’s Benin Republic on the 14th of October.