JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — Bafana Bafana don dey enter wahala as dem fit lose dem three points from dem last match for World Cup qualifiers because of ineligible player matter. This shaky situation follow dem recent 2-0 victory over Lesotho, as Teboho Mokoena, wey play for that match, suppose dey serve suspension from yellow card wahala.
Mokoena, midfielder for Mamelodi Sundowns, don collect two yellow cards from previous matches, and he no suppose play against Lesotho. Di first card na for South Africa’s opening match against Benin on November 18, 2023, and di second one na for di qualifier against Zimbabwe on June 2024. Despite all, Mokoena featured for di Lesotho match and help dem secure di win.
As e be now, South Africa dey lead Group C with 10 points, but if FIFA decide say dem go forfeit di match, dem go drop to seven points while Lesotho go rise to eight points. Dis one fit change di whole group dynamics sharply.
Lesotho Football Association (LFA) don already yan to FIFA, sey dem want di points if dem rules in favor of Lesotho. Mokhosi Mohapi, LFA secretary-general, talk sey, “We want those points,” as dem dey feel di pressure of dis decision for dem qualification hopes.
Nigerian Football Federation self don join di call for punishment against South Africa, as dem dey trailing with four points behind di leaders. Dis matter dey hot because Nigeria and South Africa go meet on September 25, 2025, and any penalty for Bafana Bafana fit give Nigeria chance to catch up.
Di pressure don build on South Africa Football Association (SAFA) too, as reports show sey di staff enter panic mode when dem realize sey dem fielded ineligible player. SAFA officials sabi sey Mokoena don collect yellow cards but dem no tell coach Hugo Broos di important information.
Dis issue dey remind pipo of 2017 when Nigeria suffer similar penalty after dem field Shehu Abdullahi against Algeria, wey also don collect yellow cards. FIFA give Algeria 3-0 victory as warning to all teams about player eligibility.
LFA don argue sey even though dem miss di deadline to report di incident, di rule violation still need FIFA attention. Mohapi talk sey, “There’s no such. If di protest dey valid, FIFA go look into am. We dey await dem response.” Dis mean sey dem still dey hope sey FIFA go make am right even with di procedural error.
As di situation dey unfold, di stakes high for all teams as dem dey fight for qualification for the World Cup wey go happen for United States, Canada, and Mexico. With five matches left, every point dey very important.
Pundits dey vex sey how such serious mistake fit happen for professional football level, calling for better diligence from coaches and managers about player eligibility.
As di dust dey settle, Bafana Bafana fans dey hold dem breath, hoping sey dis crisis no go scatter dem journey for one of di biggest football tournaments in di world. Di outcome of FIFA investigation fit set precedent for future matters of dis kind.
No matter wetin happen, South Africa go dey alert as dem dey navigate di tough road of World Cup qualifiers. Wit dem upcoming matches against rival teams, including Nigeria, di pressure dey on dem to perform and maintain dem position.
