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4 weeks ago
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- NFF says lone FIFA holds the authorization to authorisation South Africa implicit subordinate eligibility issue
- Bafana Bafana are successful blistery h2o aft fielding Teboho Mokoena contempt the subordinate having 2 anterior yellowish cards
- Nigeria presently beryllium 4th successful Group C successful the World Cup qualifiers, trailing leaders South Africa by six points
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has responded to increasing nationalist calls for sanctions against South Africa pursuing allegations that they fielded an ineligible subordinate during their World Cup qualifier against Lesotho.
Bafana Bafana midfielder Teboho Mokoena, who had received 2 yellowish cards successful earlier matches, played 82 minutes successful their 2-0 triumph implicit Lesotho, a lucifer that could present beryllium taxable to scrutiny.
Source: Getty Images
According to FIFA regulations, immoderate subordinate who accumulates 2 yellowish cards successful 2 abstracted matches during the qualifying bid is automatically suspended for the adjacent game, arsenic reported by The Punch.
Mokoena was cautioned successful South Africa’s 2-1 triumph implicit Benin Republic successful November 2023 and again successful their 3-1 triumph implicit Zimbabwe successful June 2024.
Despite these bookings, the Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder was named successful the starting lineup and featured successful their June 2025 clash against Lesotho.
NFF awaits FIFA decision
Reacting to the development, the NFF’s Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire, confirmed that the federation has not yet received immoderate authoritative correspondence from FIFA regarding the matter.
“We person not. That is up to FIFA. But the regularisation is the rule,” Olajire told All Nigeria Soccer, hinting that disciplinary actions, if any, prevarication solely wrong FIFA’s jurisdiction.While Nigeria is not the nonstop hostile affected by the lucifer successful question, a FIFA ruling successful favour of Lesotho could pb to a constituent deduction for South Africa.
This improvement whitethorn importantly favour the Super Eagles arsenic it could change the standings successful Group C of the CAF World Cup qualifiers.
Implications for Group C standings
With 9 matches played truthful acold successful the African qualifiers, South Africa presently tops Group C with 13 points, portion Nigeria trails successful 4th spot with 7 points. Rwanda and Benin Republic beryllium supra Nigeria with 8 points each, arsenic seen connected FIFA.com.
Source: Getty Images
If FIFA rules against South Africa and deducts 3 points, it would tighten the radical standings and perchance revive Nigeria’s hopes of qualifying for the World Cup adjacent year.
The Super Eagles person struggled successful the qualifiers frankincense far, winning lone 1 successful six matches and hazard missing retired connected 2 consecutive World Cup tournaments.
If indicted, South Africa’s quest to suffice for their archetypal World Cup tourney since 2010, erstwhile they hosted, could beryllium successful jeopardy contempt dominating the qualifiers.
This incidental has added a caller furniture of play to an already competitory qualification campaign.
4 countries request constituent deduction
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that nary less than 4 could articulation Nigeria successful demanding that FIFA deduct 3 points from South Africa in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Bafana Bafana fielded an ineligible Teboho Mokoena during their 2-0 World Cup qualifiers triumph implicit Lesotho.
However, reports suggest that Lesotho person opted not to lodge a ceremonial protestation to FIFA arsenic the country's FA cited their nonaccomplishment to enactment wrong the mandatory 48-hour window.
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Source: Legit.ng
