FIFA has released its updated list of disciplinary sanctions from the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, and the glaring omission of South Africa has raised fresh questions over the eligibility row involving midfielder Teboho Mokoena.
The four-page document, obtained by Punch on Tuesday, names several national teams punished for misconduct in recent months. Strikingly, it makes no reference to the South African Football Association, despite Nigeria and Benin lodging formal protests after South Africa’s 2-0 win over Lesotho in March.
At the centre of the dispute is Mokoena, the Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder who featured against Lesotho after already receiving two yellow cards earlier in the campaign. He was cautioned in the 54th minute of South Africa’s 2-1 victory over Benin in November 2023, and again in the 52nd minute of their 3-1 triumph over Zimbabwe in June 2024.
According to FIFA’s own regulations: “If players or team officials receive two cautions in one match (in matches decided by penalties) or in two different matches of the competition, they will be automatically suspended from their team’s subsequent match.”
Mokoena nevertheless started and played 82 minutes against Lesotho before being substituted. Critics argue that South Africa should have forfeited the three points and suffered a 3-0 technical defeat. Such a decision would see Bafana Bafana drop from 17 points to 14 in Group C, drawing level with Benin and tightening the race with Nigeria, who currently have 11 points.
While South Africa remains untouched, the new sanctions list confirms other rulings. Qatar were issued a warning in June for misconduct by players and officials. Indonesia received a separate warning over order and security concerns. Earlier this year, Argentina were fined $20,000 and handed a two-match suspension for a player involved in breaches.
The silence on South Africa stands in sharp contrast to Equatorial Guinea’s case. Their campaign was derailed when FIFA and the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled that Emilio Nsue was ineligible, costing them six points and pushing them down in Group H.
For Nigeria in Group C, the stakes remain high. Two matches are left to play, and a potential ruling against South Africa could open a clearer path to the World Cup. For now, Bafana Bafana’s lead remains intact.
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