Exclusive: Lesotho FA confirms penning FIFA over ineligible Bafana star

South Africa midfielder Teboho Mokoena (right) celebrates his goal versus Congo in an AFCON qualifying victory in October. Photo Credit: South African Football Association

The Lesotho Football Association (LFA) has explained its rationale to inform FIFA about South Africa fielding ineligible Teboho Mokoena in Friday’s match against the Likuena.

The midfielder is at the centre of a storm after he featured for Bafana Bafana in their 2-0 win over Lesotho in 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying despite accumulating two yellow cards from previous qualifiers; hence making him ineligible.

LFA general secretary Mohosi Mohapi confirmed exclusively to Pan-Africa Football that they still wrote to FIFA about Mokoena’s issue even though it was outside the window for doing so.

Mohapi said they did not complain to FIFA but reminded the world football governing body of its obligation to ensure that players who accumulate two yellow cards automatically miss the next match.

Mohapi said that the LFA's wish is that players who accumulate two yellow cards must miss the subsequent World Cup qualifier without FIFA having to wait for someone to complain before a match as per current regulations.

He said: “We wrote to FIFA with a view of assisting them to apply their regulations to the letter. We are aware of the time bar situation, and we know that it would be an obstacle.”

FIFA Disciplinary Code says that “if a person receives a caution in two separate matches of the same FIFA competition, they are automatically suspended from the next match in that competition.”

The code adds that “protests must reach the Disciplinary Committee in writing, indicating the relevant grounds, within 24 hours of the end of the match in question. The 24-hour time limit cannot be extended.”

Relevant passage from the FIFA Disciplinary Code.

Hugo Broos’ side risks being docked three points in Group C, which they currently lead by five points ahead of second placed Rwanda. Lesotho are currently fifth in the six-team table with six points from six games. 

Bafana Bafana might escape the punishment because LFA did not raise the issue within the stipulated window. However due to the growing attention around the controversy, there is now a strong possibility of legal challenges and appeals from not only the Lesotho FA but the football governing bodies of fellow Group C teams Nigeria, Rwanda, Benin and Zimbabwe due to the high stakes involved in World Cup qualifying.