JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — South Africa fit face heavy penalty for fielding ineligible player Teboho Mokoena in their 2-0 win against Lesotho last Friday. The midfielder had previously received two yellow cards in the qualifications, making him automatically suspended. FIFA rules state that any player accumulating two yellow cards in different matches cannot play in the next game.
Mokoena was initially booked during South Africa’s 2-1 victory over Benin Republic in November 2023, receiving the yellow card in the 54th minute. He followed this with another booking in June 2024 during a 3-1 win over Zimbabwe. Despite this, he made it to the starting lineup against Lesotho, playing for 82 minutes before being substituted.
FIFA’s regulations are clear on player ineligibility: “If players or team officials receive two cautions in one match or in two different matches, they will be automatically suspended from their team’s subsequent match,” reads FIFA’s rule book.
Nigeria and Lesotho, currently sitting four points behind South Africa in Group C, could submit protests regarding Mokoena’s participation. However, such protests must be lodged within strict timeframes as set by FIFA. “Protests regarding eligibility need to be submitted in writing within two hours of the match and followed up with a full report within 24 hours,” FIFA added.
Should Lesotho’s protest be upheld, they would be awarded the three points, raising their total from five to eight. Meanwhile, Nigeria will be in a favorable position to overtake South Africa depending on the results of Tuesday’s matches. Currently, South Africa leads the group with 10 points, while Benin Republic sits second with eight points, followed by Rwanda with seven points. Nigeria is fourth with six points.
As South Africa prepares to face Benin Republic in Abidjan, they must focus on avoiding further complications from player eligibility issues. With claims of a politically motivated revocation against the PDP’s assets already in circulation, it remains crucial that South Africa ensures all players eligible to compete remain compliant to avoid further scrutiny.
