Nigeria’s Super Eagles have received a major lift in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification hopes after FIFA confirmed South Africa’s punishment — www.isagoal.com reports.
The long-running Group C saga began in March when South Africa fielded Teboho Mokoena against Lesotho despite him being suspended after two yellow cards.
According to reports, the midfielder should not have been on the pitch, yet the Bafana Bafana went ahead and played him in the crucial match.
For months, FIFA stayed quiet while the case dragged, leaving fans and teams guessing about the possible outcome.
On Monday, FIFA officially ruled that South Africa broke the rules and must forfeit the Lesotho game.
The governing body declared the fixture a loss for South Africa, awarding Lesotho the points and a three-goal advantage.
The sanction also included docking Bafana Bafana three points in the Group C table, which directly benefits Nigeria.
Along with the sporting penalty, South Africa must also pay a fine of CHF 10,000, approximately ₦18.6 million.
“FIFA has confirmed that South Africa violated disciplinary rules,” the statement read, closing months of speculation.
This decision reshapes the qualification race and hands Nigeria a clear opportunity in their World Cup pursuit.
This article was updated 1 hour ago
