FIFA has confirmed that South Africa have been stripped of three points and penalised for fielding an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, in their World Cup qualifying match against Lesotho in March.
The match has now been awarded as a 3-0 forfeiture in favour of Lesotho, and South Africa have also been fined CHF 10,000. The ruling significantly changes the dynamics of Group C ahead of the final rounds of qualifiers.
For Nigeria and the Super Eagles, the decision provides a new opening in the race for qualification. Before the sanction, South Africa led the group with 17 points, three more than Benin on 14, and six clear of Nigeria on 11. With the deduction, South Africa now sit level with Benin at 14 points, only ahead by goal difference, while Nigeria remain on 11. This narrows the gap and keeps Nigeria’s hopes alive.
The Super Eagles must now focus on winning their remaining fixtures to stand a chance of claiming the top spot, which secures automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup. Their most important game will be against Benin, as victory there could directly affect the standings. They will also need South Africa to falter in their matches against Zimbabwe and Rwanda. Goal difference could prove decisive, so Nigeria must look to win convincingly in their games.
However, the decision does not automatically guarantee success. South Africa may choose to appeal the ruling, and with just two matches left, everything will still be decided on the pitch. Nigerian fans have also stressed that while the deduction is a boost, the team must avoid further slip-ups if they are to take advantage of this opportunity.
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