Nigeria’s path to the 2026 FIFA World Cup may have taken an unexpected turn following a controversy involving South African midfielder Teboho Mokoena.
Reports indicate that Mokoena should have been suspended for Bafana Bafana’s Matchday 5 clash against Lesotho due to an accumulation of yellow cards. The midfielder received bookings in Matchday 1 against Benin Republic and Matchday 4 against Zimbabwe, making him ineligible for the next match.
However, Mokoena went on to play 81 minutes against Lesotho, potentially violating FIFA’s regulations on player suspensions.
According to FIFA’s 2026 World Cup Qualifiers rulebook (Subsection 9), any player who receives two yellow cards in separate matches must serve a one-match suspension in the competition.
If this breach is confirmed, South Africa could face a points deduction, which would have significant implications for Group C standings.
If FIFA applies its standard six-game suspension rule proportionally to the 10-game qualification format, South Africa could be docked three points for fielding an ineligible player.
Currently, South Africa leads Group C with 10 points, followed by Benin (8 points), Rwanda (7 points), and Nigeria (6 points). A potential points deduction for Bafana Bafana could give the Super Eagles a much-needed boost in their quest for a World Cup spot.
With five matches remaining in the qualifiers, this controversy could drastically reshape the group standings and increase Nigeria’s chances of securing a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Nevertheless, FIFA is yet to make an official ruling, but this development will be closely watched by all teams in Group C.
