World Cup (Q): FIFA officially deducts points from South Africa

The South Africa national team have been deducted points by FIFA in their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign and the South African Football Association has been fined for fielding an ineligible player in March’s qualifier against Lesotho.

Lesotho were handed a 3-0 forfeit victory from the clash on March 21, which South Africa initially won 2-0 at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane. Bafana Bafana midfielder Teboho Mokoena started the match despite being issued two yellow cards over the course of the previous matches, which should have seen him suspended due to yellow card accumulation according to FIFA rules.

The decision came down at the end of the weekend following a drawn out controversy that kept South African supporters in suspense as well as supporters of fellow Group C nations Nigeria, Benin and Rwanda.

There was a distinct possibility that South Africa could escape punishment due to the fact that Lesotho did not file a formal complaint within a 48-hour time window following the match. Lesotho Football Association president Mohosi Mohapi confirmed to Pan-Africa Football’s Peter Kanjere that they had written to FIFA after the window had elapsed.

All four nations remain firmly in the chase to qualify for the next edition of the World Cup and FIFA’s latest decision now adds more potential drama with the final two rounds of the group stage coming up in less than two weeks. After the decision, Benin are now the leaders of Group C by virtue of a superior goal difference to South Africa with the two teams tied on 14 points each.

World Cup Qualifying: Updated Group C Table

1. Benin: 14 points (GD: +4)
2. South Africa: 14 points (GD: +3)
3. Nigeria: 11 points (GD: +2)
4. Rwanda: 11 points (GD: 0)
5. Lesotho: 9 points (GD: -3)
6. Zimbabwe: 4 points (-6)