The Lesotho Football Association (LFA) has confirmed it has sent a query to FIFA over the yellow cards accumulated by Bafana Bafana of South Africa midfielder Teboho Mokoena in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Mokoena was booked in Bafana’s opening match against Benin Republic in 2023, and the fourth qualifier against Zimbabwe last year.
Due to the two cautions the Mamelodi Sundown player should have served an automatic one-match ban, according to FIFA’s rule 63 governing World Cup qualifiers.
But Mokoena played in last Friday’s 2-0 win over Lesotho in Polokwane.
There is uncertainty over whether Mokoena’s first yellow card was expunged at last year’s Africa Cup of Nations, but FIFA rules state clearly that bookings are accumulated “from round to round” – which would exclude the AFCON.
His participation last week, therefore, could mean Bafana – who are on top of Group C with 13 points – are deducted three points from that fixture, and those points would be awarded to Lesotho.
“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,” LFA secretary-general Mokhosi Mohapi told Sowetan Live.
“We have heard that Nigeria also want to protest and they too are entitled to that because the result (last Friday) prejudices everyone. Suppose it was us who fielded a defaulter and got the points, Bafana would have done the same.”
Mohapi said South Africa could not expect to use proximity to Lesotho as a basis not to file a protest.
“Unfortunately, the law is the law and SAFA should have known about the bookings. We have no hard feelings. We want those points.”
Following reports over the incident Mokoena did not feature in Bafana’s 2-0 win against Benin Republic on Tuesday.
Sowetan Live
