Nigeria’s qualification bid brightens as South Africa fields ‘ineligible’ player

Nigeria’s fledgling bid to qualify for the 2026 World Cup got an unexpected boost, at the weekend, when South Africa allegedly fielded an ineligible player in their 2-0 defeat of Lesotho at the Peter Mokaba Stadium.

Before yesterday’s games, South Africa was leading Group C with 10 points following that victory against Lesotho. Benin Republic was second on eight points with Rwanda third on seven points. With six points, the Super Eagles were fourth, while Lesotho dropped to the fifth position after the defeat by Bafana Bafana.

However, the table could change with Lesotho’s protest against the eligibility of Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder, Teboho Mokoena, to play the game.

According to the report, Mokoena was ineligible to play due to accumulated yellow cards.

As reported by sportswire.co.za, Mokoena received a caution against Benin Republic on November 2023, at the Moses Mabhida Stadium and another against Zimbabwe in June at Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein. With two bookings, he should have been suspended for the match against Lesotho. Yet, he played until the 82nd minute before being substituted by Thalente Mbatha.

According to the report, although Lesotho FA had a 24-hour window to file a protest and initially failed to do so, they are now holding an emergency meeting, exploring ways to approach FIFA with an appeal, citing Mokoena’s ineligibility.

As a cautionary measure, the South African Football Association (SAFA) instructed the Bafana Bafana technical team not to field Mokoena in yesterday’s World Cup qualifier against Benin Republic.

The Lesotho Football Association (LFA), yesterday, confirmed it has sent a query to FIFA on the issue.

There’s uncertainty over whether Mokoena’s first yellow card was expunged at last year’s