KEIR RADNEDGE REPORTS: South Africa have lost command of their World Cup qualifying group after FIFA’s disciplinary committee stripped them of three points for fielding an ineligiblle player, midfielder Teboho Mokoena, in their 2–0 home win over Lesotho. The match is now officially recorded as a 3–0 forfeit defeat for Bafana Bafana.

The South African Football Association (SAFA) has also been fined CHF 10,000, while Mokoena receives a warning.

Mokoena had received two yellow cards in earlier African Group C matches, which should have triggered an automatic one-match suspension. South Africa nevertheless fielded him against Lesotho in March—an administrative breach that opponents raised in protest and which FIFA has now upheld.

Under FIFA rules the match was automatically declared forfeited with a 3–0 loss.

Before the ruling, South Africa had topped the group comfortably. But with this points deduction they drop from 17 to 14 points and their goals difference drops from +8 into +2. Benin thus move level on 14 points and overtake on goal difference.

Nigeria and Rwanda, previously trailing further behind, move within reach: both are now just three points adrift.

With only two matches remaining in the group, the revised standings make the fight for the automatic spot—and the playoff berth for runners-up—all the more intense.

South Africa still retain control of their destiny but with no margin for error. They must win both remaining matches (against Zimbabwe and Rwanda) to reclaim top spot outright.

They are under pressure to do so with a healthy goal margin, because goal difference will likely decide who finishes ahead of Benin, Nigeria, or Rwanda.Even as runners-up, their path is more precarious: only the best second-place teams across Africa will advance to a playoff round.
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