A ray of hope has emerged that the Super Eagles could ‘gain assistance’ from the boardroom of Confederation of African Football (CAF) in their quest to edge ahead of South Africa in picking the lone ticket from Group C of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Sports247 gathered that this follows confirmation from Lesotho that their football officials have issued a formal protest against their neighbours for using an inelligible player (Teboho Mokoena) in last week’s game that the South Africans won 2-0 at home.
Both teams are set to clash again on matchday seven of the qualification series, with Bafana playing away, following which South Africa will host Nigeria, but SA’s hope of using both games to consolidate their leadership of the group has been jeopardised by the protest against them for allegedly using an inelligible player.
This is sequel to checks by Lesotho, which revealed that Mokoena was booked in SA’s opening match in November 2023 against Benin Republic and then also in their fourth fixture versus Zimbabwe, which should have ruled him out of last week’s win at home against their totally landlocked neighbours.
That lapse may now cost Bafana Bafana direly, as the 13 points they amassed after six matches, boosted by Tuesday’s 2-0 win away to Benin Republic, might drop to 10 before the qualifiers resume in September, and Nigeria (whose 1-1 draw at home with Zimbabwe on Tuesday left them with seven points) would have to worry over only three points to catch up with the South Africans.
The secretary-general of Lesotho Football Association (LFA), Mokhosi Mohapi expatiated, “The question is: was a rule broken? If yes, we are fully entitled to protest and get the points. We were made aware of Mokoena’s bookings, and we have since sent a formal inquiry to CAF and FIFA.”
Sports247 reports further that this development could jolly well support recent arguments forwarded by some football technocrats, including former secretary-general of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ambassador Fanny Amun, who reckoned that there will not be any form of political gang up among South Africa’s COSAFA partners, Lesotho and Zimbabwe, to favour Bafana Bafana against the Super Eagles.
It is, however, left to be seen if CAF would tilt towards Bafana Bafana regarding the outcome of their checks and eventual decision on Lesotho’s protest, as the continental body’s president, Patrice Motsepe is a South African.
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