The governing body, FIFA, has informed the South African Football Association that they are starting disciplinary proceedings against the team for fielding midfielder Teboho Mokoena in a match against Lesotho. Mokoena received two yellow cards in the qualifiers and should have sat out the game due to a one-match suspension.

The South African team has acknowledged making a mistake, but there was controversy over why FIFA took so long to open disciplinary proceedings. This led to speculation and criticism from other teams in the same group, as well as from coach Hugo Broos.

FIFA's rules state that if a team fields an ineligible player, the match is automatically forfeited with a 3-0 loss, unless the actual result was even more unfavorable to the team at fault.

A three-point deduction would put South Africa level with Benin on 14 points, with only two qualifiers left in their group. Nigeria and Rwanda are only three points behind, and the team that wins the group will automatically qualify for the World Cup finals in North America next June.

The last two rounds of matches are scheduled for next month, with South Africa facing Zimbabwe away and Rwanda at home, while Benin plays Rwanda away and Nigeria at home.

This is not the first time a country has been penalized for fielding an ineligible player in African World Cup qualification. In 2018, Nigeria was awarded a 3-0 win against Algeria after fielding Shehu Abdullahi, who had not served a one-game ban. Nigeria still qualified for the finals in Russia.

In 2014, the Cape Verde Islands lost a playoff spot after using Fernando Varela in a match against Tunisia, despite his suspension.

FIFA's disciplinary code emphasizes the importance of adhering to eligibility rules to ensure fair competition in international football.

The outcome of the disciplinary proceedings against South Africa will be crucial in determining their chances of advancing to the World Cup finals.