Former Super Eagles captain and respected football analyst, Sunday Oliseh, has confirmed that South Africa is at risk of facing disciplinary action from FIFA.
This follows the alleged fielding of an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, in Bafana Bafana’s 2-0 victory over Lesotho during the March 2025 World Cup qualifier in Polokwane.
Speaking on his official podcast, Oliseh spoke about FIFA’s regulations, the disciplinary process, and what Nigeria should focus on ahead of Tuesday’s crunch Group C clash against Bafana Bafana in Bloemfontein.
“To the best of my knowledge, South Africa is in trouble,” Oliseh said.
“The football association is responsible for ensuring that only eligible players are fielded. If a team fields an ineligible player and a valid protest is upheld, standard penalties include the forfeiture of the match.”
The Mokoena controversy
At the heart of the brewing storm is Teboho Mokoena, a key midfielder for Bafana Bafana, who allegedly accumulated two yellow cards earlier in the qualifiers and should have been suspended for the March fixture against Lesotho.
Oliseh’s explanation
“According to FIFA regulations for the 2026 World Cup Preliminary Competition, a player who gets two yellow cards across different matches in the qualifiers is automatically suspended for the team’s subsequent match. It doesn’t matter who it is — that player is ineligible,” the ex-Super Eagles captain said.
South Africa’s alleged violation, if proven, could have serious consequences.
“By fielding Tebogo Mokoena in that win against Lesotho, to the best of my knowledge, South Africa is in trouble,” Oliseh reiterated. “If the protest is upheld, the standard penalty under the FIFA disciplinary code is the forfeiture of the match, and the result is typically overturned to a 3-0 defeat for the offending team.”
This would hand Lesotho three points, reduce South Africa’s goal difference, and potentially alter the standings in Group C.
Why FIFA’s decision is taking so long
Many Nigerian fans have questioned why FIFA has yet to sanction South Africa, but Oliseh provided clarity on the timeline.
“Some might wonder why it has taken so long,” he said. “It is simply because the process can take weeks to months, as FIFA may request additional information from the associations involved.”
Crucially, Oliseh revealed that the matter hinges on one key question: Did Lesotho file a timely protest?
“For any disciplinary action against South Africa to be taken, there has to be a protest filing by the opponent — in this case, Lesotho,” he explained. “The protesting team must submit a written protest to the FIFA match commissioner within two hours of the match’s end, followed by a detailed written report to the FIFA disciplinary committee. Without this, FIFA cannot act.”
As of September 2025, FIFA has not issued a ruling, meaning South Africa remain Group C leaders with 16 points pending any decision.
Financial fines and possible sanctions
If FIFA rules against South Africa, sanctions could include:
Match forfeiture: Lesotho awarded three points; South Africa’s 2-0 win overturned to a 3-0 defeat.
Goal difference adjustment: Bafana’s current +8 would drop to +5.
Financial penalties: Oliseh said fines “around $7,000 to $10,000” are possible.
Player-specific punishment: Mokoena could also face additional suspension, depending on FIFA’s findings.
“Integrity is very important here,” Oliseh stressed. “Someone has to be sanctioned for this if proven.”
‘Don’t rely on FIFA,’ Oliseh warns Nigeria
Despite the possible advantage a sanction could bring to Nigeria, Oliseh warned the Super Eagles against hoping for external help, insisting that Tuesday’s showdown against Bafana Bafana remains decisive.
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“I will advise you, my compatriots, and anybody who has Nigeria’s interest at heart — any points deduction sanction is useless to us as Nigeria if we do not beat South Africa on Tuesday,” Oliseh cautioned.
“Let’s focus first on winning and, if possible, winning well, as goal difference will count eventually. It is useless if South Africa is sanctioned and we don’t get positive results in the last two games.”
Following Nigeria’s 1-0 win over Rwanda, the Super Eagles sit third in Group C with 10 points, six behind South Africa. A win in Bloemfontein could blow the group wide open.
What happens next
The ball is now in FIFA’s court, but the Super Eagles cannot afford to wait for off-field rulings. A win against South Africa would keep Nigeria’s qualification hopes alive and pile pressure on Bafana Bafana amid the ongoing Mokoena controversy.
Kick-off for the Nigeria vs South Africa clash is 5 p.m. Nigerian time at the Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein.
