Court of Arbitration of Sport Attorney Blasts Mokoena Over World Cup Qualifier Eligibility Blunder
- Bafana Bafana find themselves in the spotlight after a questionable player selection in a 2026 World Cup qualifier, raising concerns about adherence to rules
- Legal experts have weighed in, criticising the handling of the situation and emphasising the responsibility of both players and officials
- As the team prepares for upcoming qualifiers, squad decisions are under intense scrutiny, with the controversy casting a shadow over South Africa’s campaign
Bafana Bafana could face sanctions from FIFA after fielding Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Teboho Mokoena in a 2026 World Cup qualifier despite him being suspended.
The South African national side played Mokoena in their March clash against Lesotho, even though he carried two yellow cards and was ineligible.
Source: Getty Images
The error prompted Nigeria to lodge a formal complaint with FIFA, putting South Africa at risk of having points deducted in Group C.
Raymond Hack, former SAFA chief executive and attorney at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, did not mince his words.
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“The rules are very clear: a player cannot take part if suspended. The responsibility lies with both the team and the player. Somebody dropped the ball. But it’s not just the officials; the player also has a duty. He is a professional, playing for his country—bringing the team into disrepute is unacceptable," Hack said.
If FIFA upholds the complaint, Bafana Bafana could forfeit the Lesotho match with a 3-0 scoreline, undermining their 2-0 victory on the day.
What could happen should Mokoena be ruled ineligibe for the next game?
Despite the controversy, coach Hugo Broos has included Mokoena in his preliminary squad for the upcoming qualifiers against Lesotho and Nigeria in September. Broos also has other options at his disposal, including Orlando Pirates duo Sipho Mbule and Thalente Mbatha, as well as Bathusi Aubaas, should Mokoena be ruled ineligible.
The final squad selection will reveal whether the midfielder escapes further scrutiny or if South Africa faces a costly penalty in their World Cup campaign.
Any decision to retroactively punish South Africa could drastically alter Group C standings. Bafana Bafana currently top the group, five points clear of Rwanda and Benin. Nigeria, Lesotho, and Zimbabwe trail closely behind.
With four matches remaining in the qualification campaign, a disciplinary ruling could shake up Africa’s race to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
While the deadline for protest submissions has lapsed, Nigeria and Lesotho reportedly maintain a flicker of hope that global football authorities could still take action based on the severity of the breach.
Source: Getty Images
FIFA has punished African teams
FIFA has a history of penalising African nations for fielding ineligible players during official fixtures. Ethiopia and Nigeria are among the countries that faced point deductions and disciplinary action after breaching player eligibility rules in previous World Cup qualifying campaigns.
FIFA makes key decision on Congo-Brazzaville
Briefly News previously reported that FIFA suspended Congo-Brazzaville from international football in February 2025 due to third-party interference in the country's football federation, FECOFOOT.
The suspension has now been lifted after the Congolese authorities restored full control of football operations to the FECOFOOT Executive Committee, led by Jean-Guy Blaise Mayolas.
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Source: Briefly News
