NFF Denies Reports of FIFA Clearing South Africa Over Ineligible Player Case

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has dismissed rumours that FIFA has cleared South Africa of fielding an ineligible player during a 2026 World Cup qualifier against Lesotho.

Midfielder Teboho Mokoena, who had accumulated two yellow cards, should have served a suspension but went on to feature in the March clash against Lesotho.

According to FIFA rules, a team risks forfeiting three points if an ineligible player is fielded, provided a protest is lodged within 24 hours after the match.

Reports circulated on Tuesday, citing FIFA’s official X account, that Bafana Bafana had been cleared of wrongdoing.

However, NFF’s Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire, told NAN that no formal update has been received.

“There has been no official communication to that effect. What people are reporting is a tweet on their (FIFA) X account. We don’t regard that as official communication,” Olajire stated.