WCQ: Bafana Bafana Face New Threat Over Fielding Ineligible Player Against Lesotho
- South Africa are on the verge of securing the qualification ticket for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which would be held in North America
- Bafana Bafana are yet to get updates from FIFA or CAF on whether they will be deducted three points for fielding an ineligible player against Lesotho in March
- Hugo Broos' side are now faced with a new threat concerning the ongoing issues for fielding an ineligible player in one of their World Cup qualifiers
PAY ATTENTION: AI Deepfakes Are Everywhere — Spot Them With Our Free Fact-Checking Course. Join Now!
Bafana Bafana of South Africa are reportedly facing a new threat concerning fielding ineligible players in their victory over Lesotho in the World Cup qualifier.
Source: Getty Images
Bafana Bafana are currently on top of Group C with 17 points, but could have it reduced to 14 if FIFA decides to sanction them for fielding Teboho Mokoena in a World Cup qualifier match against Lesotho in March.
Bafana’s 2-0 victory over the Crocodiles included the involvement of a Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder who should not have been eligible to play.
FIFA guidelines stipulate that protests should be lodged within 24 hours, but Lesotho only submitted theirs days after the fixture.
PAY ATTENTION: Briefly News is now on YouTube! Check out our interviews on Briefly TV Life now!
Benin join the protest against Bafana
CAF and FIFA are yet to give an update on whether there's going to be sanctions for Bafana Bafana concerning the issue, with Nigeria being the number one country pushing for the points to be deducted.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria were unable to get the desired result against Bafana Bafana for them to continue the protest over point deduction as they stumbled to a 1-1 draw against Hugo Broos' men at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein on Tuesday, September 9, 2025.
With Nigeria looking like they're out of the competition, Bafana Bafana are now facing a new threat concerning the issue, as the Benin Republic tweeted at CAF after defeating Lesotho 4-0 to climb to second in Group C.
Source: Getty Images
They now have the chance to be levelled on points with Bafana Bafana if three points are removed from the 17 they already had, as the West African nation is currently on 14 points.
“Thank you, CAF_Online, for congratulating us on our victory. We kindly request a fair review: please reconsider the 3-point deduction against South Africa and respect suspension rules. Let the spirit of the game decide the qualification,” the Benin Republic released on their official X handle.
Benin Republic head coach Gernot Rohr expressed satisfaction with his side’s progress, insisting his team is well-positioned to challenge Bafana Bafana for the top spot in their World Cup qualifying group.
“With 14 points on the board, we have the opportunity not only to finish first in the group but also to secure a place among the best runners-up,” the former Super Eagles coach said.
“The squad has found balance, we defend solidly, play with unity, and possess technical quality. Our young players are growing in confidence, and that gives us hope, though we remain cautious in our optimism,” he added.
FIFA releases statement on Bafana vs Nigeria
Briefly News also reported that ahead of the mouthwatering clash between Bafana Bafana and Super Eagles, FIFA released an official statement concerning the match.
The statement gathered a lot of reactions from Nigerian and South African football fans on social media.
Source: Briefly News
