Former Super Eagles captain and respected football analyst, Sunday Oliseh, has stated that the South African national team, Bafana Bafana, is in danger of facing disciplinary action from FIFA.
He said the potential sanction stems from the alleged fielding of an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, during South Africa’s 2-0 World Cup qualifier victory over Lesotho in March 2025.
In a recent podcast, Oliseh detailed the circumstances surrounding the potential violation and its implications for both South Africa and Nigeria ahead of their crucial Group C match on Tuesday.
He explained that Mokoena reportedly accumulated two yellow cards in earlier qualifiers, which, according to FIFA regulations, should have resulted in an automatic suspension for the match against Lesotho.
“To the best of my knowledge, South Africa is in trouble. The football association is responsible for ensuring that only eligible players are fielded. If a team fields an ineligible player and a valid protest is upheld, standard penalties include the forfeiture of the match,” Oliseh said.
According to analysts, FIFA’s disciplinary code dictates that if a protest is upheld, the offending team typically forfeits the match with a 3-0 defeat.
This would award Lesotho three points and reduce South Africa’s goal difference, potentially altering the Group C standings.
Oliseh provided clarity on why a ruling has not yet been made, explaining that FIFA’s disciplinary process can take weeks or even months as the organisation requests additional information from the involved associations.
He emphasised a crucial factor: the matter hinges on whether Lesotho filed a timely and official protest.
“For any disciplinary action against South Africa to be taken, there has to be a protest filed by the opponent—in this case, Lesotho,” he stated.
The protest must be submitted to the FIFA match commissioner within two hours of the match’s end, followed by a detailed report to the FIFA disciplinary committee.
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As of September 2025, FIFA has not issued a ruling, and South Africa remains at the top of Group C with 16 points.
Should a ruling be made against South Africa, potential sanctions could include the forfeiture of the match against Lesotho, a financial penalty, and a possible additional suspension for Mokoena.
Despite the potential for a points deduction for South Africa, Oliseh cautioned Nigerian fans and the team against relying on an off-field decision.
He stressed that a victory for Nigeria in Tuesday’s match remains paramount. “Any points deduction sanction is useless to us as Nigeria if we do not beat South Africa on Tuesday,” he warned.
Following their recent 1-0 win over Rwanda, the Super Eagles are third in Group C with 10 points, six behind South Africa.
A win in Bloemfontein would significantly boost Nigeria’s qualification hopes and increase pressure on South Africa amid the ongoing controversy.
The crucial match is scheduled for Tuesday at 5 p.m. Nigerian time.
