2026 World Cup qualifiers: NFF speaks on FIFA clearing South Africa in player eligibility row
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has dismissed reports that FIFA has cleared South Africa of wrongdoing in the ongoing player ineligibility case involving midfielder Teboho Mokoena.
NFF Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday that the federation had not received any official correspondence from FIFA.
“There has been no official communication to that effect. What people are reporting is a tweet on their (FIFA) X account. We don’t regard that as official communication,” Olajire said.
The controversy centres on Mokoena, who played in South Africa’s 2-0 win over Lesotho in a World Cup qualifier despite reportedly accumulating two yellow cards in earlier matches — an offence that, under FIFA rules, should have triggered a one-match suspension.
Lesotho lodged a formal protest, asking FIFA to award them a 3-0 victory and deduct three points from South Africa. A decision has yet to be announced six months later, leaving uncertainty in Group C of the CAF World Cup qualifiers.
If the protest succeeds, South Africa would drop from 17 to 14 points, while Lesotho would climb to nine points. If dismissed, South Africa would keep its points tally and remain top of the group.
Nigeria currently sits fourth with 11 points, tied with Rwanda, after Tuesday’s 1-1 draw against South Africa in Bloemfontein. Benin Republic are second with 14 points, while Lesotho (6 points) and Zimbabwe (4 points) occupy the bottom spots.
The Super Eagles face Lesotho next in Bloemfontein on October 10, before concluding their campaign at home against Benin Republic on October 16. They may now need maximum points to secure direct qualification or face a play-off route.
