The South African Football Association (SAFA) has announced its intention to appeal after FIFA deducted three World Cup qualifying points from Bafana Bafana for fielding Teboho Mokoena in their match against Lesotho on March 21.
In a statement posted on their website, SAFA expressed that it was “deeply disappointed” by what it described as an “unprecedented” ruling.
South Africa’s Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton Mckenzie, has said that the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) will conduct an investigation into the “incompetence” that led to deduction three points in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers by FIFA after fielding an ineligible player.
On September 29, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee also fined the South African Football Association (SAFA) 10,000 Swiss Francs (approximately $12,540).
“This development is deeply regrettable and has brought embarrassment to our nation and the game of football. We acknowledge that this situation has brought South Africa into disrepute, and we must take full responsibility for addressing it,” Mckenzie stated.
He expressed gratitude to FIFA for its swift action, which spared the country from prolonged uncertainty regarding its fate.
Mckenzie added that the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) will conduct an investigation into the “incompetence” that led to the FIFA sanction.
South Africa’s national men’s football team, known as Bafana Bafana, fielded midfielder Teboho Mokoena in their World Cup qualifier against Lesotho on March 21, despite the 28-year-old being on a one-match suspension for accumulating two yellow cards.
The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has ruled that the match has been forfeited by South Africa with a score of 3-0, while Mokoena has received a warning. SAFA has the option to appeal the decision within 10 days.
As a result, Bafana Bafana has dropped to second place in Group C of the African qualifiers, behind Benin on goal difference.
However, South Africa remains in a strong position to qualify, with upcoming matches against Zimbabwe and Rwanda.
Bafana Bafana will next face Zimbabwe at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on October 10, 2025, followed by a clash against Rwanda at the Mbombela Stadium on October 14, 2025. Both matches will kick off at 6pm CAT.
In his statement, Mckenzie emphasised that the country’s immediate focus is to support the national team as they prepare for their final two matches in Durban and Mbombela.
“This deduction is merely a bump in the road, and we believe we remain firmly on track for qualification; our faith in the team’s ability to succeed is unshaken,” the minister added.
