The Federation of International Football Association, FIFA, has officially opened disciplinary proceedings against the South African Football Association,SAFA, and Teboho Mokoena, reports Completes ports.com.
According to FIFA, Mokoena, who plays for South African club, Mamelodi Sundowns was fielded by Bafana Bafana while under suspension in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Crocodiles of Lesotho on 21 March, 2025.
Hugo Broos’ side won the matchday five encounter played in Polokwane City 2-0.
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Mokoena had earlier accumulated two yellow cards against Squirrels of Benin Republic, and Warriors of Zimbabwe, which, under FIFA rules, triggered a one-match ban.
According to SABC, FIFA confirmed that both the player and the association face charges of breaching several disciplinary regulations, including the fielding of an ineligible player.
The case has been referred to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, with SAFA and Mokoena given six days to submit their response.
If found guilty, South Africa could be forced to forfeit result of the match, which would hand Lesotho a 3-0 victory.
By Adeboye Amosu
3 Comments
Justice at last.
Imagine if we had gotten the 3 points in the last match. With SA now likely to go back to 14 points, that’s advantage Benin Republic.
Benin players will literally lay their lives down to draw or beat Nigeria at home in October. SA will be praying Nigeria wins. Nigeria will be gunning for a win and hoping Rwanda or Zimbabwe does them a favor.
Hahahaha. Prayer warriors everywhere.
@Kel Justice ke? A team that drew 5 out of 8 matches should not be allowed to deprive more business minded, history making teams to reach the mundial.
You gave a very distant possibility for us to qualify if we scored 7 unreplied goals against Lesotho when push comes to shove.
But with a largely “unchanged” lineup to come next month and even more stifled creativity, that’s impossible.
For me oh, let Benin qualify. SA hit the low by taking us to a rugby pitch.
We can’t even score goals if Lesotho play 10-0-0 formation sef.
We missed it when we knew fate gave us a second chance against SA and didn’t win.
@Sly, sometimes I just play all the what-ifs in my head. Just inconceivable that we drew 1-1 at home with Lesotho. Who plays draw with Lesotho, home or away????
What if Paseiro had not used the Lesotho game as a test match for Afcon preparation and taken it more seriously?
What if he hadn’t used the match to show some players he’s the boss and left them out of a crucial game? What if he approached the match with the same passion as a Nigerian or a coach like Chelle, and not just as a businessman who doesn’t really care?
What if Osimhen had played all the matches? We have won all the matches he played in, or were in a winning position before he was yanked off.
What if Chelles had left him in the match against Zimbabwe, since he occasionally joins the defence, unlike Boniface, who came in and didn’t really care?
What if Aina had not been injured in the last match? That dude is a defender but not doubt one of the best players of the SE and a potent winger, even better than ever predictable Simon on the right.
NFF maladministration just played us out of the qualifiers, and fate helped them finish it off. If we had won the last match (I believe we would have had Osimhen and Aina in the game, fully fit), now we would have been celebrating cos we would be on the same 13 points with SA.