FIFA
FIFA leaves South Africa off latest World Cup sanction list despite Mokoena controversy
FIFA has released its latest disciplinary report for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, and South Africa is notably absent from the sanction list despite ongoing protests about the eligibility of midfielder Teboho Mokoena.
The four-page document, obtained on Tuesday, outlines penalties for several national teams but makes no mention of the South African Football Association. This omission is striking, as both Nigeria and Benin formally challenged South Africa’s decision to field Mokoena in their 2-0 win over Lesotho in March.
Mokoena, of Mamelodi Sundowns, had already received two yellow cards earlier in the qualifiers — against Benin in November 2023 and Zimbabwe in June 2024. Under FIFA rules, that should have triggered an automatic suspension. Nonetheless, he started and played 82 minutes against Lesotho, sparking demands that South Africa be docked three points and handed a 3-0 technical defeat.
If enforced, such a ruling would drop South Africa from 17 to 14 points in Group C, level with Benin and within reach of Nigeria, who sit third with 11 points. With only two rounds of qualifiers remaining, the decision could prove pivotal in Africa’s race for nine automatic World Cup spots.
FIFA’s updated sanction list, however, focused on other nations. Qatar were issued a warning on June 4, 2025, for misconduct, while Indonesia also received a caution over security issues. Earlier in January, Argentina were fined $20,000 and given a two-match suspension for disciplinary breaches — the toughest measure in the current report.
The silence on South Africa contrasts sharply with the recent case of Equatorial Guinea, who were docked six points after fielding ineligible striker Emilio Nsue. That decision, upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, dropped them from second to fifth in Group H and reshaped qualification standings.
For Nigeria, a potential sanction on South Africa could be decisive. The Super Eagles, still in the hunt for one of four best runners-up slots across Africa’s nine groups, face Benin and Lesotho in their remaining matches. A deduction for Bafana Bafana would significantly boost Nigeria’s qualification hopes.
For now, however, South Africa remain untouched by FIFA’s disciplinary arm, retaining control of their Group C destiny and their bid for a first World Cup appearance since 2010.
