In a quick turn of events, the Super Eagles hopes of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup could just have been given a huge boost by their rivals South Africa.
The South Africans are said to have violated a FIFA rule regarding eligibilityof players and could now face sanctions to the benefit of the Super Eagles.
In the course of South Africa’s 2-1 win over Benin Republic on Matchday one of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in Africa, midfielder Teboho Mokoena was booked for a challenge on a Rwandese player.
Three Matchdays later, against the Warriors of Zimbabwe, Mokoena was booked once again, which meant the midfielder should miss the next game, Matchday 5 against Lesotho.
However, Teboho Mokoena was not excused from the squad.
The midfielder was named in the starting eleven, before being replaced by Thalente Mbatha in the 82nd minute.
The FIFA rules state that:”If players or team officials receive two cautions in one match or in TWO DIFFERENT MATCHES OF THE SAME COMPETITION, THEY WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY SUSPENDED FROM THEIR TEAM’S SUBSEQUENT MATCH.”
And as a result of Teboho Mokoena’s pair of cards against Benin Republic and Zimbabwe, he was ineligible to face Lesotho.
The punishment for this offense is deduction of three points from the erring team, which will be awarded to the opponents (Lesotho).
This could only be great news for the Super Eagles, who consider South Afrca as their direct rivals for an automatic ticket to the 2026 World Cup from Group C.
The Super Eagles suffered a similar rule breach on the road to the 2018 World Cup when they were docked three points from fielding ineligbible Shehu Abdullahi in the away game in Algeria.
They lost the three points with a scoreline of 3-0.
By Aboluwade God’s Treasure
