2026 WCQ: FIFA yet to clear South Africa in Player ineligibility saga – NFF

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has dismissed reports claiming that FIFA has cleared South Africa of fielding an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, in a World Cup qualifier against Lesotho.

Mokoena, a key midfielder for Bafana Bafana, allegedly picked up two yellow cards earlier in the qualifiers and should have been suspended for the March fixture.

FIFA regulations state that if an ineligible player features in a qualifying match, the team risks losing three points—provided the opposing side lodges a protest within 24 hours.

Reports circulated on Tuesday, attributed to FIFA’s official X handle, suggesting South Africa had been absolved of any wrongdoing.

However, NFF Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire, denied this in a chat with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), insisting no official statement has been received.

“There has been no official communication to that effect. What people are reporting is a tweet on their (FIFA) X account. We don’t regard that as official communication,” Olajire said.

As things stand, South Africa leads Group C with 17 points from eight matches, followed by Benin Republic on 14 points. Rwanda and Nigeria are tied on 11 points, while Lesotho (6 points) and Zimbabwe (4 points) sit at the bottom of the table.