The Fédération Internationale de Football Associatio (FIFA) has launched disciplinary proceedings against the South African Football Association (SAFA) and midfielder Teboho Mokoena for playing him in a 2026 World Cup qualifier against Lesotho in March 2025, despite his one-match suspension from prior yellow cards, according to a letter dated September 15 from the governing body.

The 28-year-old Mokoena, of Mamelodi Sundowns, had received cautions against Benin in November 2023 and Zimbabwe in June 2024, triggering the ban under FIFA rules. South Africa won the match 2-0 in Polokwane on March 21, but the oversight has prompted charges of breaching regulations, including fielding an ineligible player.

SAFA and Mokoena have until September 21 to respond, with the case now before FIFA's Disciplinary Committee. If upheld, penalties could include forfeiting the result—awarding Lesotho a 3-0 win—and fines or further suspensions, as seen in Equatorial Guinea's recent case involving Emilio Nsue, confirmed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

This echoes FIFA's Legal Handbook 2025, Chapter 2, Article 19, allowing ex officio action on ineligible players.

South Africa tops Group C with 17 points from eight matches. A deduction would drop them to 14 points, tying Benin, narrowing their lead over Nigeria (11 points) to three, and boosting Lesotho from six to nine points—still fifth, behind Rwanda (11).

Nigeria, third, faces Lesotho away and Benin at home in October, while South Africa meets Zimbabwe and Rwanda. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) acknowledged the probe, noting only Nigeria and South Africa have prior World Cup appearances in the group, with Benin and Rwanda eyeing historic debuts.

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos described the incident as a technical error, but the fallout could reshape the race for Africa's automatic spot.