FIFA has handed down disciplinary action against South Africa after the national team fielded an ineligible player in their recent World Cup qualifying match against Lesotho. The ruling sees the fixture forfeited, with Lesotho officially awarded a 3-0 victory and three points.

In addition to the match sanction, the South African Football Association (SAFA) has been fined CHF 10,000, while midfielder Teboho Mokoena—at the centre of the eligibility controversy—has been issued a formal warning. The punishment delivers a serious blow to Bafana Bafana’s qualifying campaign and hands Lesotho a crucial advantage in Group play.

The decision underscores FIFA’s zero-tolerance stance on player eligibility breaches, with South Africa now under pressure to regroup both on and off the pitch. The setback could prove pivotal in the race for qualification, as the nation faces mounting scrutiny over its administrative oversight.

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