Benin head coach Gernot Rohr has expressed his disappointment with world football governing body FIFA and their delay in not giving the necessary punishment to South Africa for fielding an ineligible player during their 2026 World Cup qualifier against Lesotho, Afrosport reports.
Teboho Mokoena was ineligible for the fixture which took place in Polokwane in March after accumulating two yellow cards in games against the Beninoise and Zimbabwe.
The Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder however played for 82 minutes as Bafana Bafana won the match against Lesotho 2-0 to maintain top spot in Group C.
Rohr, speaking ahead of Benin’s clash with Zimbabwe, called on FIFA to impose the necessary disciplinary action on South Africa
“It is not normal that we don’t know the situation about the points on the log table before our games this week,” the Franco-German tactician said per Reuters.
“It is very, very strange. Normally, South Africa should lose three points, and those points should go to Lesotho. But nobody knows why FIFA has not taken this decision.”
As things stand in Group C ahead of Bafana Bafana’s FIFA World Cup qualifier against Lesotho at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein on Friday.#BafanaPride@SABC_Sport pic.twitter.com/vcGQwhL7tq
— Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana) September 4, 2025
South Africa still top Group C and will play Lesotho in the return leg in Bloemfontein. They are five points ahead of Rwanda and Benin in the battle to secure an automatic spot to next year’s finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
However, a three-point deduction would leave the group wide open as the Super Eagles of Nigeria are six points behind the South Africans and neighbouring Lesotho seven points adrift.
