Tension in South Africa as FIFA’s Hammer Looms After Mokoena Featured Against Lesotho

• South Africa could look FIFA wrath aft fielding an ineligible subordinate successful the ongoing 2026 World Cup qualifiers
• Teboho Mokoena was successful the starting line-up successful Bafana Bafana's triumph implicit Lesotho, but the appeared ineligible to diagnostic successful that game
• The Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder had received 2 yellowish cards anterior to the game, and South Africa hazard losing 3 points

South Africa hazard losing 3 points successful the contention for an automatic summons to the 2026 FIFA World Cup aft fielding an ineligible subordinate against Lesotho.

The Group C leaders named Teboho Mokoena successful their starting lineup against Lesotho, but it was gathered that helium was ineligible.

The Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder played 82 minutes successful the brushwood arsenic Bafana Bafana won the necktie 2-0 astatine the New Peter Mokaba Stadium connected Thursday night.

South Africa FIFA's wrath aft fielding Teboho Mokoena against Lesotho. Photo: MICHAEL SHEEHAN.
Source: Getty Images

Was Mokoena ineligible for South Africa vs Lesotho?

The 28-year-old had accumulated 2 yellowish cards anterior to their crippled against the Crocodiles of Lesotho.

Mokoena earned his archetypal yellowish paper of the ongoing World Cup qualifiers during their 2-1 location triumph implicit the Benin Republic successful November 2023.

He cautioned successful the 54th infinitesimal of the crippled which Bafana Bafana won 2-1.

Again, helium was handed different yellowish paper successful the 52nd infinitesimal during their 3-1 triumph implicit Zimbabwe successful June 2024.

Mokoena was successful the starting line-up against Lesotho connected Thursday earlier helium was replaced by Thalente Mbatha successful the 82nd minute, Leadership reports.

Did Bafana Bafana interruption FIFA rules?

According to the FIFA World Cup qualifying regulations, a subordinate who receives 2 yellowish cards becomes ineligible to enactment successful the pursuing match.

The rule book says:

“If players oregon squad officials person 2 cautions successful 1 lucifer (in matches decided by penalties) oregon successful 2 antithetic matches of the competition, they volition beryllium automatically suspended from their team’s consequent match."

South Africa manager Hugo Broos believes his squad volition prime the World Cup ticket. Photo: Frank Abbeloos.
Source: Getty Images

Will FIFA authorisation South Africa?

Nevertheless, a protestation lodged by Nigeria oregon Lesotho—both trailing South Africa by 4 points successful the radical could beryllium dismissed by FIFA if it was not filed wrong the designated timeframe.

“Protests regarding the eligibility of players selected for matches successful the preliminary contention shall beryllium submitted successful penning to the FIFA Match Commissioner wrong 2 hours of the lucifer successful question and followed up with a afloat written report, including a transcript of the archetypal protest, to beryllium submitted to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee successful accordance with the applicable provisions of the FIFA Disciplinary Code and by email to [email protected] wrong 24 hours of the extremity of the lucifer and shall beryllium dealt with by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, different they volition beryllium disregarded."

Implications should FIFA authorisation South Africa

Should the protestation succeed, 5th-placed Lesotho, presently with 5 points, would summation 3 further points, boosting their full to 8 successful the standings.

Meanwhile, Nigeria could person a beardown accidental to surpass South Africa, contingent connected Tuesday’s lucifer outcomes.

Benin Republic clasp 2nd spot with 8 points, followed by Rwanda with seven, portion Nigeria beryllium 4th with six points aft 5 matches.

Hugo Broos boasts arsenic South Africa pb Group C

Legit.ng earlier reported that South Africa caput manager Hugo Broos suggested that his boys volition get assistance for Nigeria and past suffice for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Speaking soon aft their triumph against Lesotho astatine the New Peter Mokaba Stadium successful Polokwane, Hugo Broos said:

This was South Africa’s 3rd triumph successful 5 World Cup qualifying matches truthful far, with 1 gully and 1 loss.

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Source: Legit.ng