South Africa’s head coach, Hugo Broos, has expressed his frustration over the dramatic situation surrounding Teboho Mokoena’s involvement in their World Cup qualifier against Lesotho, which could result in a points deduction and a major setback for their qualification hopes.
Mokoena, who had accumulated two yellow cards in previous matches, was suspended for the game but still played 81 minutes in the 2-0 victory.
As a result, FIFA is expected to impose a points deduction on South Africa, likely forcing them to forfeit the three points from the match and adding a 0-3 goal deficit to their record, following the precedent set for similar violations.
This potential penalty has caused significant disappointment for Broos, who had been praised for turning around the team’s fortunes.
Broos expressed his dismay over the situation, believing that it has handed an unintended advantage to South Africa’s primary competitors in the group, Nigeria.
The Super Eagles had raised the issue before it was flagged by Lesotho and other teams, putting pressure on the South African team at a critical juncture in their World Cup qualification campaign.
Should South Africa lose the points and goals as expected, their lead over Nigeria will shrink to just three points, giving the Super Eagles a strong incentive to approach their upcoming match in South Africa with the knowledge that a win could see them level on points with the hosts.
The looming deduction significantly impacts South Africa’s chances of securing a spot in the 2026 World Cup.
Further reports suggest that Broos may step down as head coach in October if South Africa fails to qualify for the global tournament, opting not to continue with the team despite leading them to a third-place finish in the most recent Africa Cup of Nations in ivory Coast.
