Bafana Bafana’s hopes of qualifying for the World Cup have been dealt a major blow after FIFA deducted points for fielding Teboho Mokoena, who was on a yellow-card suspension against Lesotho.

Mokoena was suppose to serve a one-match suspension during their World Cup qualifier against Lesotho but he played the full 90 minutes in their 2-0 win.

Bafana were sitting at the top of the Group C standings, with a three points but have now had points deducted by FIFA, which places them in second placed in the standings.

South Africa’s hopes of qualifying will rely on them securing wins in their final two games in the group against Zimbabwe and Rwanda.

“The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has sanctioned the South African Football Association (SAFA) for having fielded an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, in the South Africa v. Lesotho match played on 21 March 2025 in the FIFA World Cup 2026™ preliminary competition, thereby breaching article 19 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC) and article 14 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 M Preliminary Competition Regulations,” FIFA said in a statement.

“Consequently, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has declared the match in question to have been forfeited by the representative team of South Africa by a score of 3-0.

“SAFA has also been ordered to pay a fine of CHF 10,000 to FIFA, while Teboho Mokoena has been issued with a warning.

“The parties were notified of the terms of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee’s decision today. In accordance with the relevant provisions of the FDC, they have ten days in which to request a motivated decision, which, if requested, would subsequently be published on legal.fifa.com.

“The forfeiture decision remains subject to a potential appeal before the FIFA Appeal Committee.”