FIFA Sanction Looms Over Bafana Bafana for Fielding Ineligible Player as Broos Names Squad for Nigeria, Lesotho Qualifiers

South Africa head coach Hugo Broos has announced a powerful preliminary Bafana Bafana squad for two critical 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Nigeria next month — but the buildup is clouded by controversy.
The national team will face Lesotho at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein on Friday, 5 September, before hosting Nigeria’s Super Eagles at the same venue on Tuesday, 9 September.
South Africa currently lead Group C with 13 points from six matches, but that lead is under threat.
FIFA has reportedly confirmed that Bafana Bafana will be docked three points and three goals for fielding Teboho Mokoena, who was ineligible due to accumulated yellow cards, in their 2–0 win over Lesotho earlier this year.
The sanction could drop South Africa to 10 points, tightening the race with Rwanda, Benin, and Nigeria.
‘It’s now just a question of when the announcement will be made,’ a senior FIFA official stated. ‘South Africa will forfeit the match against Lesotho for fielding an ineligible player.’
Despite the setback, Broos has assembled a formidable squad featuring top-tier talent from both domestic and international leagues. Among the standout names:
Ronwen Williams (Mamelodi Sundowns) – the ever-reliable shot-stopper and team captain
Lyle Foster (Burnley FC, England) – South Africa’s leading striker in Europe
Relebohile Mofokeng (Orlando Pirates) – the teenage sensation lighting up the PSL
Bongokuhle Hlongwane (Minnesota SC, USA) – a dynamic winger with pace and power
Themba Zwane (Mamelodi Sundowns) – the midfield maestro with unmatched vision
Luke Le Roux (Portsmouth FC, England) – a rising star in central midfield
Teboho Mokoena (Mamelodi Sundowns) – ironically, the player at the center of the FIFA sanction
With Nigeria desperate to revive their qualifying campaign and Lesotho emboldened by the FIFA ruling, South Africa faces a high-pressure double-header that could define their World Cup destiny.