By Daily Sports Nigeria on September 30, 2025

The South African Football Association has said it will lodge a formal appeal against the three-point deduction and fine sanctioned against it by FIFA, for fielding an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, during their 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho in March, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

South Africa, who lead the qualifying Group C, which also has the Benin Republic and Nigeria, were docked three points on Monday by FIFA.

FIFA awarded Lesotho a 3-0 win in the Group C qualifier that took place on March 21. Bafana initially won the match 2-0, but fielded Mokoena, who was supposed to be suspended, having picked up two yellow cards previously in the group stages.

The ruling will see their six-point gap ahead of Nigeria cut to three points, while the Benin Republic will also go top on goal difference.

“As SAFA, we are deeply disappointed with this unprecedented outcome, noting that it was delivered by a single-member panel without reasons, and without affording the association an opportunity to present legal arguments,” SAFA said in a statement.

“The association confirms that we have requested written reasons for the judgment and intend to lodge a formal appeal with the FIFA Appeals Committee within the prescribed 10-day period under FIFA’s disciplinary rules.”

While they prepare their appeal and await the outcome, South Africa must win their last two matches against Lesotho and Zimbabwe in October.

The Benin Republic, who are the most likely team to benefit from the ruling, will host Rwanda in their penultimate game before visiting Nigeria, who also have Zimbabwe to beat in their penultimate game, in order to keep their hopes alive.

Source Punch Ng

Posted September 30, 2025

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