2026 World Cup Qualifiers: Why FIFA is Under Fire for Not Docking South Africa Points

Bafana Bafana have been left in limbo as FIFA’s silence cast uncertainty over their World Cup qualifying campaign and group standings.

South African football is mired in confusion as FIFA hesitates to act on a clear disciplinary breach that could reshape the race for World Cup qualification.

The controversy stems from South Africa’s decision to field midfielder Tebeho Mokoena against Lesotho in March despite his suspension, leaving rival nations and fans frustrated at the lack of clarity.

The 2-0 victory in Johannesburg lifted Bafana Bafana to the top of Group C, but the result now hangs under a cloud.

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According to FIFA’s Disciplinary Code, Mokoena’s two prior cautions should have ruled him out of the game.

By allowing him to play, South Africa left itself vulnerable to sanctions — sanctions that historically result in forfeiture and a 3-0 defeat being awarded to the opposition.

“We did something bad, we did something we shouldn’t do, but there was no complaint,” said South Africa coach Hugo Broos as per Reuters.

Precedent and Provisions

FIFA’s code is unambiguous. It states that a player with two cautions in the same competition is automatically suspended from the following game.

Moreover, if a team fields an ineligible player, the match is automatically forfeited unless the actual scoreline is harsher.

In the past, FIFA has enforced these rules swiftly. Nigeria, for example, lost a point in 2018 for fielding suspended defender Shehu Abdullahi in a qualifier against Algeria.

“It is not normal that we don’t know the situation about the points on the log table before our games this week,” said Gernot Rohr, coach of Benin, who sits second in the group.

“It is very, very strange. Normally, South Africa should lose three points, and they should go to Lesotho. But nobody knows why they (FIFA) did not take this decision.”

Ripple Effects Across Group C

The uncertainty has rattled the entire qualification race. With their victory intact, South Africa currently top the standings on 13 points, five ahead of Rwanda and Benin, and six clear of Nigeria. Lesotho trail on six points, while Zimbabwe languish at the bottom with four.

If the three points were docked, South Africa’s lead would shrink to just two, and Lesotho would leapfrog into second place.

That shift could dramatically alter the balance of power in the group, especially with four crucial fixtures still to play. Nigeria, who travel to Bloemfontein next Tuesday, would see their hopes of catching the leaders revived.

Rohr, who endured a similar fate with Nigeria in 2018, underscored the gravity of the matter.

“We didn’t know he was suspended, and we lost the points in the disciplinary committee,” he recalled.

“The world still awaits FIFA’s decision,” the Nigerian Football Federation declared this week.

Rohr added pointedly: “FIFA should now very quickly give the decision.”

South Africa remains in pole position to qualify automatically for the 2026 finals in North America.

But the shadow of a disciplinary ruling continues to hover over Group C, creating an atmosphere of distrust and unease.

Until FIFA issues a definitive verdict, the World Cup qualifying campaign in southern Africa will remain engulfed in uncertainty.