The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) punished the South African national team on Monday during the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

FIFA deducted 3 points from South Africa’s tally and imposed a fine of 10,000 Swiss francs (about 10,700 euros) on its officials.

This penalty was due to South Africa’s “Bafana Bafana” fielding a suspended player, Thabiso Mokoena, in the match against visiting Lesotho on March 21.

Mokoena, a midfielder, started the match and was substituted in the 82nd minute.

The match had originally ended with a 2-0 victory for South Africa in the fifth round of World Cup qualifiers, but the result was overturned to a 3-0 loss.

Accordingly, the standings of Group C are now as follows:

• 1- Benin 14 points
• 2- South Africa 14 points (instead of 17)
• 3- Nigeria 11 points
• 4- Rwanda 11 points
• 5- Lesotho 9 points (instead of 6)
• 6- Zimbabwe 4 points

FIFA concluded the statement by saying that the South African Football Association has the right to appeal to the Appeals Committee against these rulings.

Two rounds remain in the World Cup qualifiers, after which the group leader qualifies for the World Cup. The runner-up can also qualify if it ranks as the best second-placed team (four spots for nine teams), then wins four playoff matches, half of which are against two non-African teams.