The South African Football Association (SAFA) has vowed to challenge FIFA’s decision to deduct three points and impose a fine on Bafana Bafana for fielding an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, in their World Cup qualifier against Lesotho in March. Mokoena had accumulated two yellow cards earlier in the qualifying campaign, making him suspended for the match.

The Ruling’s Impact

FIFA’s ruling, announced on September 29, has significantly altered the Group C standings. Bafana Bafana’s six-point lead over Nigeria has been reduced to three, while Benin Republic now tops the group on goal difference. The points deduction has made the final stretch of the qualifiers more intense for South Africa.

SAFA’s Response

SAFA expressed disappointment with the outcome, describing it as “unprecedented” and “procedurally unfair”. The association criticized the single-member panel for delivering the ruling without providing reasons or allowing SAFA to present legal arguments. SAFA has requested written reasons for the judgment and plans to lodge a formal appeal with the FIFA Appeals Committee within the prescribed 10-day period.

What’s Next

With the appeal pending, Bafana Bafana face a crucial final two fixtures against Lesotho and Zimbabwe in October. To strengthen their World Cup hopes, they need to win both matches and achieve a superior goal difference to Benin’s. The team will play Zimbabwe at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on October 10, followed by a match against Rwanda at the Mbombela Stadium on October 14.