South Africa Leads World Cup Qualifiers, Points Risk Over Mokoena

South Africa secured a 2-0 victory over Benin in their latest African 2026 World Cup qualifying match, maintaining a five-point lead in their group. However, the result may be jeopardized due to Teboho Mokoena's participation in a previous match against Lesotho, where he should not have played due to an automatic one-match ban from accumulating two yellow cards. An anonymous South African Football Association official acknowledged the team's oversight, stating that Mokoena's eligibility was mishandled. Lesotho has initiated a formal inquiry with FIFA and CAF regarding the situation, but FIFA's rules stipulate that protests must be submitted within 24 hours of a match, which may limit their options. South Africa's victory brought their total points to 13, as they aim to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since hosting in 2010. If Lesotho's appeal is successful, South Africa could lose points, potentially altering the standings significantly.