FIFA has officially deducted three points from South Africa in the ongoing 2026 World Cup qualifiers, the world football governing body confirmed on Monday. The decision comes as punishment for Bafana Bafana fielding Teboho Mokoena, who was ineligible to play against Lesotho in March.

In addition to the point deduction, South Africa has also seen three goals deducted from their tally by FIFA. The disciplinary action was taken by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, which found the South African Football Association (SAFA) in breach of article 19 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code and article 14 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 preliminary competition regulations.

The match in question, played on March 21, 2025, has been declared forfeited by South Africa, with a score of 3-0 awarded to Lesotho. SAFA has also been ordered to pay a fine of CHF 10,000 to FIFA, while Teboho Mokoena has been issued with a warning. The parties involved have been notified of the decision and have ten days to request a motivated decision, which can be appealed before the FIFA Appeal Committee.

This development has significant implications for the qualifying campaign, particularly for Nigeria’s Super Eagles, who still harbor hopes of playing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The point deduction means that South Africa will drop to second spot in Group C, behind Benin Republic, with Nigeria now in a stronger position to potentially overtake them.

The final round of qualifiers is set to be intense, with the top four teams in the group still in contention for a spot in the 2026 World Cup in North America. South Africa will face Zimbabwe and Rwanda in their remaining matches, while Benin will play Rwanda and Nigeria. The Super Eagles will also face Lesotho and Benin in October, setting the stage for a thrilling conclusion to the qualifying campaign.