South Africa head coach Hugo Broos has accused Nigeria of applying pressure on FIFA after his side risk losing three points in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers for fielding an ineligible player, Soccernet.ng reports.
The Bafana Bafana, who currently sit top of Group C with 13 points from six matches, could face a heavy sanction after star midfielder Teboho Mokoena featured in their 2-0 win against Lesotho despite being suspended.
Mokoena had collected yellow cards in separate qualifiers against Benin and Zimbabwe, which under FIFA rules should have triggered a one-match ban.
However, the midfielder played 82 minutes of the match in Polokwane before being substituted.
FIFA regulations stipulate that players who accumulate two cautions in different qualifiers must serve a suspension in the following game.
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The Lesotho Football Association has since lodged a formal protest with FIFA, raising the prospect of South Africa forfeiting the match and handing the points to Lesotho.
At a press conference in Johannesburg on Friday, Broos did not deny the error but turned his frustration towards Nigeria, who he claimed were attempting to profit from the situation off the pitch.
What did Hugo Broos say?
“If there will be a moment that we lose three points, okay then, we lose the three points,” Broos complained in a video shared by Diskifans.
“We can't do anything about that decision. But I always said that rules are to be followed. And the rule is, okay, we did something bad. We did something we couldn't do. But there was no complains. And the rule says if there is no complain, there is nothing.
“And it is not because a third or a fourth team who is indirectly involved in that, that they have to push and do everything to lose us the three points.
They have nothing to do with it. It was against Lesotho. And I hope that FIFA follows the rules. And they don't, how do you say it in English, that they can't resist the pressure that Nigeria is trying to put now.
Follow the rules, man. And that's it. Of course, he (Mokoena) couldn't play that because of that but nobody said something.
And they had the opportunity to do it. Nobody did it. So, what are you doing now and putting pressure on something. Prove it on the pitch.
For the moment, they didn't. And they try to do it like this? Okay. I understand it. Maybe we should do the same. Yeah, we have to be honest.
But, okay, that's up to them. We focus on the game and what we have to do on the pitch and not what we have to do outside the pitch.”
South Africa’s position in the group could be significantly affected if FIFA imposes the penalty.
A deduction would cut their lead at the top, leaving Benin and Rwanda closer on their tails. Nigeria, currently fourth with seven points, stand to benefit most from any decision that alters the standings.
For the Super Eagles, the September window represents an opportunity to revive their campaign. They will host Rwanda in Uyo on 6 September before travelling to Bloemfontein to face South Africa three days later. Nigeria are expected to open camp on 1 September, with Rwanda arriving in Uyo on the 3rd.
The disciplinary matter now rests with FIFA’s committee, which will weigh Lesotho’s complaint against the strict timelines for lodging protests.
Article 8 of FIFA’s regulations makes clear that any eligibility protests must be submitted within two hours of a match and followed up within 24 hours – otherwise they can be disregarded.
If FIFA rules in favour of Lesotho, South Africa’s victory will be overturned, Mokoena’s suspension enforced, and the group table reshaped.
At present, Bafana Bafana hold a six-point cushion over Nigeria. A deduction would halve that advantage, injecting new life into a group where every point will be crucial for qualification.
