South Africa’s 2026 World Cup hopes hit by forfeit
South Africa's hopes of qualifying for the 2026 Fifa World Cup have suffered a major blow after they were sanctioned for fielding an ineligible player.
Teboho Mokoena played in the 2-0 win over Lesotho in March despite the 28-year-old midfielder being due to serve a suspension after accumulating two yellow cards.
A Fifa disciplinary committee has ruled that South Africa breached competition rules, and has imposed a 3-0 forfeit.
The country's football association (Safa) has been fined 10,000 Swiss Francs ($12,500, £9,340), while Mokoena has been issued with a warning.
The decision has blown Group C of African World Cup qualifying wide open, with South Africa dropping from top of the table to second place, behind Benin on goal difference.
Only the group winners are a...