South Africa move closer to qualification but face potential points deduction, Nigeria held
South Africa secured a 2-0 victory over Benin on Tuesday, placing them five points ahead in their African qualifying group for the 2026 World Cup. However, this lead may be jeopardized due to the inclusion of an ineligible player in their previous match.
Teboho Mokoena contributed to South Africa's win against Lesotho in the fifth round just four days prior, but his participation was against the rules as he had received two yellow cards, resulting in an automatic one-match suspension.
An official from the South African Football Association, who wished to remain unnamed, acknowledged that Mokoena had been cautioned during matchday one against Benin in 2023 and again on matchday four against Zimbabwe last year.
"The team management were guilty of incompetence ahead of the Lesotho match. Mokoena should not have played," he told AFP.
"However, FIFA rules state that protests must be lodged within 24 hours of a match ending, and my understanding is Lesotho did not do so."
Mokhosi Mohapi, the secretary-general of the Lesotho Football Association, informed AFP that his organization has formally inquired with FIFA and CAF regarding the situation involving Mokoena.
However, he did not specify the date when this inquiry was submitted. According to the FIFA disciplinary code, "the 24-hour limit for protests cannot be extended."
In a sixth-round match, South Africa excluded midfielder Mokoena against Benin, achieving a victory that was more decisive than expected.
Despite controlling the game and facing minimal threats—only a remarkable save by captain Ronwen Williams from a Junior Olaiten header—South Africa took 53 minutes to find the back of the net.
Fawaaz Basadien delivered a cross, which Burnley forward Lyle Foster converted by nudging the ball past goalkeeper Marcel Dandjinou.
South Africa secured all three points six minutes before the end of regular time when substitute Jayden Adams headed in a free-kick taken by Oswin Appollis.
This win brought South Africa's total to 13 points as they aim to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 2010, when they automatically qualified as hosts.
Rwanda and Benin each have eight points, while pre-qualifying favorites Nigeria have seven, Lesotho has six, and Zimbabwe has four.
Should Lesotho's appeal regarding Mokoena be successful, they could rise to nine points, while South Africa's total could decrease to ten, with four rounds still to play.
In a Group C encounter, Tawanda Chirewa scored a late equalizer in stoppage time, securing a 1-1 draw for Zimbabwe against Nigeria in Uyo, following a goal from star forward Victor Osimhen in the 74th minute.
This outcome was surprising, considering Osimhen had netted two goals in a commanding victory for Nigeria over Rwanda the previous week, while Zimbabwe had managed only a draw against Benin, leaving them without a win.
In Kigali, Rwanda and Lesotho played to a 1-1 stalemate, with Jojea Kwizera giving the home side the lead shortly before the hour mark, only for Lehlohonolo Fothoane to equalize in the dying moments of the match.
Group D saw an upset as Cape Verde, the unexpected leaders, triumphed 2-1 away against the previously unbeaten Angola, with Dailon Livramento of Verona scoring both goals for Cape Verde.
Cameroon remained close behind Cape Verde, just one point adrift, after securing a 3-1 victory over Libya in Yaoundé, with captain Vincent Aboubakar contributing two goals.
In Group A, Egypt extended their lead over Burkina Faso to five points by defeating Sierra Leone 1-0 in Cairo, thanks to a goal from Zizo just before the halftime break.
Meanwhile, Sudan, the leaders of Group B, conceded a goal in the 99th minute, resulting in a 1-1 draw against South Sudan. This match took place in Benghazi, Libya, due to the ongoing civil war in Sudan.
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