The player in question, midfielder Teboho Mokoena, had accumulated two yellow cards before the match, making him ineligible to play. His first booking came during South Africa’s 2-1 home win against Benin in November 2023, where he was cautioned in the 54th minute. He then received a second yellow card in the 52nd minute of their 3-1 win over Zimbabwe in June 2024. Despite this, Mokoena was included in the starting lineup against Lesotho, playing 82 minutes before being substituted for Thalente Mbatha.
FIFA’s World Cup qualifying rules clearly state that any player who receives two yellow cards across different matches is automatically suspended for the following game.
“If players or team officials receive two cautions in one match (in matches decided by penalties) or in two different matches of the competition, they will be automatically suspended from their team’s subsequent match,” FIFA’s rule book states.
However, South Africa’s potential punishment depends on whether Nigeria or Lesotho, who are both trailing by four points, have lodged a formal protest within FIFA’s stipulated timeframe.
“Protests regarding the eligibility of players selected for matches in the preliminary competition shall be submitted in writing to the FIFA Match Commissioner within two hours of the match in question. A full written report, including a copy of the original protest, must then be sent to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee within 24 hours,” FIFA regulations state.
If the protest is successful, Lesotho—currently fifth in Group C with five points—would be awarded three additional points, bringing them to eight. This could also improve Nigeria’s chances of overtaking South Africa, depending on the results of Tuesday’s fixtures.
As it stands, South Africa lead the group with 10 points, followed by Benin with eight, Rwanda with seven, and Nigeria in fourth place with six. South Africa will face Benin in Abidjan in their next match, with their qualification hopes now hanging in the balance.