Soccer Football - World Cup - CAF Qualifiers - Group C - Lesotho v South Africa - Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein, South Africa - September 5, 2025 South Africa's Teboho Mokoena celebrates with teammates after the match REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko
CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - South Africa have been stripped of three points in their World Cup qualifying campaign for fielding an ineligible player, denting their hopes of reaching next year’s finals.
FIFA said on Monday that its disciplinary committee had found South Africa guilty of playing midfielder Teboho Mokoena in a 2-0 home win over Lesotho in March when he should have sat out the qualifier after two cautions in previous Group C games.
