Nigeria and Benin’s hopes of gaining ground in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers through an administrative slip by South Africa have been dashed, following FIFA’s latest disciplinary ruling, GOAL reports.
The controversy arose after Bafana Bafana midfielder Teboho Mokoena was fielded against Lesotho despite being suspended due to accumulated yellow cards. This led Nigeria, Benin, and Lesotho to push for sanctions against South Africa, including a possible points deduction that could have reshaped the Group C standings.
However, FIFA has confirmed that South Africa will face no such penalty. The governing body explained that the required formal complaints were not properly lodged by either Nigeria or Lesotho, thereby weakening the case for disciplinary action.
With two rounds of qualifiers left, South Africa now needs just one point against Zimbabwe to secure their return to the World Cup for the first time since hosting the tournament in 2010.
The ruling is a setback for both Nigeria and Benin, who had banked on South Africa’s error to open up qualification chances. Instead, the decision serves as a reminder of the importance of timely and proper engagement with FIFA’s disciplinary procedures — and the dangers of relying on administrative loopholes rather than results on the pitch.
