- South Africa look a three-point deduction successful the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers for fielding an ineligible player
- Although Lesotho person failed to lodge an authoritative protest, fans successful Nigeria are urging FIFA to use its rules
- During the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Nigeria faced a three-point deduction for fielding Shehu Abdullahi successful 1 of their matches
No less than 4 could articulation Nigeria successful demanding that FIFA deduct 3 points from South Africa successful the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Bafana Bafana fielded an ineligible Teboho Mokoena during their 2-0 World Cup qualifiers triumph implicit Lesotho.
The Mamelodi Sundowns should person served suspension having received yellowish cards successful their erstwhile 2 games, but helium was successful enactment for 81 minutes against the Crocodiles.

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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.
They, however, stay hopeful that FIFA volition uphold the rules of the crippled successful deciding South Africa's fate.
How did FIFA grip akin cases?
During the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Nigeria faced a three-point deduction for fielding Shehu Abdullahi, an ineligible player, successful a 1-1 gully with Algeria.
No protestation was needed arsenic Algeria gained 3 points and goals, though Nigeria inactive qualified.
In 2013, Togo mislaid their archetypal 2-0 triumph implicit Cameroon aft fielding Jacques Alexy Romao, who should person been suspended.

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One twelvemonth later, Ethiopia saw a 3-0 triumph implicit Botswana reversed owed to Minyahil Teshome Beyene’s ineligibility, but they topped their radical earlier faltering successful playoffs.
Cape Verde’s 2-0 triumph implicit Tunisia was nullified aft Fernando Varela was successful action, antecedently red-carded, costing them dearly, arsenic per CNN.
Only recently, Equatorial Guinea forfeited 2 matches aft featuring Emilio Nsue. The subordinate had faced naturalisation issues and it affected the full nationalist team.
According to Own Goal, these nations could entreaty to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) should FIFA spare South Africa for a comparable violation, fixed unchanged rules.
Eric Chelle shares 2026 WCQ plans
Meanwhile, Super Eagles caput manager Eric Chelle appears to person moved on from the disappointment of the gully against Zimbabwe.
The Franco-Malian tactician has acceptable his sights connected the adjacent games and however they would interaction the chances of qualification.
The qualifiers resume successful September with a location crippled against Rwanda astatine the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium successful Uyo earlier a important distant crippled against South Africa.
Victor Ikpeba defends Eric Chelle
Legit.ng earlier reported that erstwhile Super Eagles guardant Victor Ikpeba defended Eric Chelle, peculiarly with Aina playing connected the near broadside of the defence.
During the World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe, Ola Aina and Ademola Lookman stood retired arsenic players deployed retired of their earthy roles.
Aina, wide regarded arsenic the Premier League’s apical right-back this season, was shifted to left-back to marque country for Bright Osayi-Samuel.
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Source: Legit.ng