The South African Football Association (SAFA) has been dealt a staggering blow to its FIFA World Cup 2026 qualification campaign after the governing body overturned their 2-0 victory over Lesotho from March 21, 2025. This decision, announced on September 29, strips Bafana Bafana of three crucial points and reverses the score to a 3-0 forfeit loss for South Africa.
The disciplinary action was taken because midfielder Teboho Mokoena, who featured in the match, should have been serving an automatic one-game suspension after accumulating two yellow cards in previous qualifiers. SAFA’s administrative oversight has resulted in a CHF 10,000 fine and fundamentally altered the competitive balance of Group C.
Prior to the ruling, South Africa held a comfortable lead at the top of the group. The penalty—which involves both the loss of three points and a five-goal swing in goal difference (from a +2 result to a -3 result)—has created a three-way sprint for the sole automatic qualification spot.
Benin now sits in first place due to their superior goal difference, despite being level on points with South Africa. Crucially, the ruling has revived the campaign for former favorites Nigeria, who now trail the top two by just three points with two matches remaining.
With only the group winner advancing automatically to the World Cup, the final two matchdays in October are now high-stakes cup finals for the top three contenders.
