FIFA has published its latest list of disciplinary sanctions from the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, with South Africa notably absent despite ongoing concerns over the eligibility of midfielder Teboho Mokoena.

The four-page document, obtained by PUNCH Sport Extra on Tuesday, outlines disciplinary measures against several national teams but does not include any sanctions against the South African Football Association.

The absence is striking, given Nigeria and Benin have both raised formal objections to South Africa’s use of Mokoena in a 2-0 victory over Lesotho in March.

Mokoena was first booked in the qualifying series during their 2-1 home win over the Benin Republic in November 2023. He was cautioned in the 54th minute of the game.

FIFA has published its latest list of disciplinary sanctions from the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, with South Africa notably absent despite ongoing concerns over the eligibility of midfielder Teboho Mokoena.

The four-page document, obtained by PUNCH Sport Extra on Tuesday, outlines disciplinary measures against several national teams but does not include any sanctions against the South African Football Association.

The absence is striking, given Nigeria and Benin have both raised formal objections to South Africa’s use of Mokoena in a 2-0 victory over Lesotho in March.

Mokoena was first booked in the qualifying series during their 2-1 home win over the Benin Republic in November 2023. He was cautioned in the 54th minute of the game.

According to FIFA World Cup qualifying rules, a player is ineligible to play a subsequent match after accumulating two yellow cards.

“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 stated in the rule book.

If such a ruling were applied, South Africa would fall from 17 points to 14 in the group standings, bringing them level with Benin and narrowing the gap for Nigeria, who currently sit third with 11 points.

With two matches remaining in the qualification campaign, the decision could significantly alter the race for Africa’s nine automatic places at the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The newly released sanctions list, however, makes no mention of South Africa. Instead, it confirms punishments for other teams.

Qatar were issued a warning on June 4 2025 for misconduct by players, officials and the team as a whole. The sanction carried no financial penalty. Indonesia also received a warning related to order and security at a qualifying fixture.

Earlier in January, Argentina were fined $20,000 and handed a two-match suspension for a player involved in disciplinary breaches. These measures remain the most severe included in the updated document.

The lack of reference to South Africa is in sharp contrast to the case of Equatorial Guinea, whose World Cup campaign was dramatically reshaped after FIFA and the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled against them.

The Central African side were found to have fielded Emilio Nsue, a striker who was ineligible to represent the national team. Despite having played for Equatorial Guinea for over a decade, FIFA determined that he had not received the necessary clearance to switch allegiance from Spain, where he had previously appeared at youth level.

As a result, Equatorial Guinea were docked six points, with their 1-0 wins over Namibia and Liberia overturned and awarded as 3-0 technical victories to the opponents.

The decision, upheld by CAS in May, dropped them from second place in Group H with 16 points to fifth with 10, reshaping the standings and boosting Namibia’s chances of progression.

For Nigeria, the ruling had wider implications. The Super Eagles remain in contention not only in Group C but also for one of the four best runners-up slots across Africa’s nine groups, which would offer a pathway into the inter-confederation play-offs.

Current runners-up standings show Gabon leading with 19 points, with Madagascar and DR Congo on 16, followed by Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Namibia and Uganda on 15 each. Benin sit on 14, while Nigeria, with 11 points, are hoping to close the gap in the final rounds.

A potential sanction against South Africa would bring Nigeria closer to contention, particularly as they are due to face both Lesotho and Benin in their remaining qualifiers.

Victory in those fixtures, coupled with a deduction for South Africa, will dramatically improve their prospects of securing a World Cup berth.

For now, however, FIFA’s latest list leaves South Africa untouched, with no formal sanction recorded. While Nigeria and Benin await further developments, Bafana Bafana retain their lead in Group C, keeping their path to a first World Cup since 2010 in their own hands. (PUNCH)

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