South Africa have forfeited their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying victory over Lesotho after fielding an ineligible player, world football governing body FIFA announced on Monday.
The Bafana Bafana had originally beaten Lesotho 2-0 on 21 March in Polokwane, but the result has now been overturned to a 3-0 defeat. The ruling drops South Africa to second place in Group C, behind Benin Republic on goal difference, while Lesotho remain in fifth position.
FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee said South Africa breached Article 19 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code by playing Teboho Mokoena, who was suspended after picking up two yellow cards in earlier qualifiers against Benin and Zimbabwe.
The South African Football Association (SAFA) has been fined 10,000 Swiss francs ($12,536) and retains the right to appeal the decision to FIFA’s Appeals Committee.
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