World Cup
By Sello Masilo
The Lesotho Football Association (LFA) has called on FIFA to investigate and potentially deduct points from South Africa’s national team, Bafana Bafana, for allegedly fielding an ineligible player in their recent 2-0 victory in a 2026 World Cup qualifier. The player in question, midfielder Teboho Mokoena, is said to have accumulated two yellow cards in previous matches, which should have resulted in a one-match suspension. Despite missing the deadline for a formal protest, the LFA is urging FIFA to uphold fair play and enforce its regulations consistently.
The Controversy Explained
The drama unfolded after Bafana Bafana beat Lesotho 2-0 on March 21, 2025, at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane. The victory seemed routine until the LFA raised concerns about Teboho Mokoena’s eligibility. Mokoena, a vital midfielder for both Bafana Bafana and his club Mamelodi Sundowns, played 82 minutes before being substituted. However, the LFA argues that he should have been sidelined due to two yellow cards received in earlier World Cup qualifiers—one during South Africa’s 2-1 win over Benin on November 18, 2023, in Durban, and another in a 3-1 victory against Zimbabwe on June 11, 2024, in Bloemfontein.
FIFA’s rules are clear: a player who picks up two yellow cards in separate matches during the qualifying campaign must sit out the next game. The LFA believes South Africa broke this regulation by allowing Mokoena to play against Lesotho, prompting them to question the integrity of the match result.
LFA’s Request to FIFA
The LFA didn’t spot the issue right away. “We only got wind of it two or three days after the match,” said LFA Secretary General Mokhosi Mohapi in an interview. After digging into match records, they confirmed Mokoena’s yellow cards and checked FIFA’s regulations. Realising there might have been a mistake, they wrote to FIFA’s competitions department on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, asking for clarity and action.
There’s a catch, though—FIFA rules state that protests about player eligibility must be lodged within 24 hours of the match. The LFA admits they’re “time-barred” for a formal protest, but they’re not giving up. “We are merely saying FIFA live and die by your regulations,” Mohapi explained, “and if you have precedents where you have deducted points before on matters that are very similar to the one that is the subject today, do so so that then we know your notion of fair play is applied irrespective of who is the perpetrator.”
Mohapi stressed that this isn’t about bad blood with the South African Football Association (SAFA). “We have spoken with Safa,” he said, “there’s no bad blood between us.” Instead, the LFA sees itself as a FIFA member in good standing, duty-bound to protect the sport’s integrity.
Potential Impact on World Cup Qualification
Bafana Bafana currently top Group C in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers with 10 points after five matches. Lesotho sit on 5 points, while Benin have 8, Rwanda 7, Nigeria 6, and Zimbabwe 3. The stakes are high—only the group winner is guaranteed a spot at the tournament in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, with the best runners-up heading to a playoff. If FIFA deducts points from South Africa, they could slip to third or fourth place, shaking up the race for qualification.
The LFA isn’t alone in raising concerns. Reports suggest the Nigerian Football Federation has also flagged the issue, though Mohapi clarified he hasn’t spoken to them. “I haven’t spoken to Dr Sanusi [NFF Secretary General] ever since we were in Egypt around the 9th of March,” he said, noting that a friend tipped him off about the possible infraction.
Precedents and FIFA Regulations
FIFA has acted on similar cases before. In 2013, Botswana protested after Ethiopia fielded a player with two yellow cards in a World Cup qualifier. FIFA awarded Botswana a 3-0 win, setting a precedent for points deductions. Another example came in 2017, when Nigeria lost three points for using an ineligible player against Algeria, though they still qualified for the 2018 World Cup. These cases show that FIFA can step in to enforce its rules, even if protests aren’t lodged on time.
The LFA points to articles 7.1, 8.3, and 9.3 of FIFA’s regulations, which outline player suspensions and fair play standards. They argue that it’s FIFA’s job—not Lesotho’s or SAFA’s—to ensure players are “automatically suspended” after two yellow cards. “The ball is in FIFA’s court,” Mohapi said, urging the body to stay consistent with past decisions.
Reactions and Next Steps
The controversy has football fans buzzing. Some insist rules must be followed to the letter, while others argue that since the match wasn’t protested in time, the result should stand. Analysts are scratching their heads over how such an oversight slipped through at this level. SAFA, meanwhile, has stayed quiet, offering no official comment yet.
FIFA is now reviewing the LFA’s letter, and the outcome remains uncertain. “We understand that FIFA has a lot of competitions that they are observing,” Mohapi said, “but key to them is they should make sure that they address this thing.” While the LFA didn’t set a deadline for a response, they’re in constant communication with FIFA and hopeful for a resolution that upholds fair play.
If FIFA rules against South Africa, they could deduct the three points from the Lesotho match, possibly awarding them to Lesotho as a 3-0 win. However, with the protest deadline missed, FIFA might opt for a lighter penalty—or no action at all.
A Call for Fair Play
The Lesotho Football Association’s push isn’t just about points—it’s about keeping football honest. With four matches left in the Group C qualifiers, every result counts. A decision in favour of the LFA could boost Lesotho’s slim qualification hopes while denting Bafana Bafana’s lead. More importantly, it would send a message that rules apply to everyone, no matter the team or the timing.
As the football world waits for FIFA’s verdict, this saga highlights the fine line between competition and compliance. Whether it ends in a points shake-up or a slap on the wrist, the outcome will ripple through the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign, reminding all involved that fair play isn’t just a slogan—it’s the heart of the game.
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