South Africa strengthened their position in the African qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a 2-0 victory over Benin on Tuesday, opening up a five-point lead at the top of Group C. However, their advantage could be reduced due to the potential consequences of fielding an ineligible player in their previous match.
Midfielder Teboho Mokoena, who played in South Africa’s win over Lesotho four days ago, should have been suspended after accumulating two yellow cards—one against Benin in 2023 and another against Zimbabwe last year—triggering an automatic one-match ban.
A South African Football Association official, speaking on condition of anonymity, acknowledged the oversight. "The team management were guilty of incompetence ahead of the Lesotho match. Mokoena should not have played," the official told AFP.
However, FIFA regulations require any protest to be lodged within 24 hours of a match concluding. The official noted that Lesotho had not submitted a formal complaint within that timeframe.
Lesotho Football Association secretary-general Mokhosi Mohapi confirmed that his organization had sent an inquiry to both FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) regarding Mokoena’s eligibility. However, he did not specify when the inquiry was submitted.
According to FIFA’s disciplinary code, "the 24-hour limit (for protests) cannot be extended," which could work in South Africa’s favor.
Despite the off-field concerns, South Africa delivered a composed performance against Benin, resting Mokoena to avoid further complications. The visitors controlled possession throughout, and goalkeeper Ronwen Williams was called into action only once, producing a spectacular save to deny Junior Olaitan’s header.
The breakthrough came in the 53rd minute when Fawaaz Basadien’s cross found Burnley striker Lyle Foster, who forced the ball over the line off Benin goalkeeper Marcel Dandjinou.
South Africa sealed the victory in the 84th minute when substitute Jayden Adams nodded home an Oswin Appollis free-kick.
The win lifts South Africa to 13 points as they aim to qualify for their first World Cup since hosting the tournament in 2010. Rwanda and Benin sit five points behind on eight, with pre-qualifying favorites Nigeria on seven, Lesotho on six, and Zimbabwe on four.
However, should Lesotho’s inquiry result in a successful appeal, they could be awarded three points for their match against South Africa, which would move them up to nine points while reducing South Africa’s total to 10. With four rounds remaining, such a ruling could significantly impact the group’s balance.
Elsewhere in Group C, Nigeria were held to a surprising 1-1 draw at home against Zimbabwe. Star forward Victor Osimhen looked to have secured victory for the Super Eagles with a 74th-minute strike, but Zimbabwe’s Tawanda Chirewa stunned the home crowd with a stoppage-time equalizer.
The result was unexpected, especially after Osimhen’s impressive brace in Nigeria’s previous win over Rwanda, while Zimbabwe had yet to register a victory in the qualifiers.
Meanwhile, Rwanda and Lesotho played out a 1-1 draw in Kigali. Jojea Kwizera gave the home side the lead just before the hour mark, but Lehlohonolo Fothoane equalized in the closing stages.
In Group D, Cape Verde continued their remarkable campaign with a 2-1 away victory over previously unbeaten Angola, courtesy of two goals from Verona forward Dailon Livramento.
Cameroon remain just one point behind the group leaders after a 3-1 win over Libya in Yaoundé, with captain Vincent Aboubakar scoring twice.
Egypt extended their lead in Group A to five points with a narrow 1-0 victory over Sierra Leone in Cairo, secured by Zizo’s first-half goal.
In Group B, Sudan conceded a dramatic equalizer in the 99th minute, settling for a 1-1 draw against South Sudan. The match was played in Benghazi, Libya, due to ongoing civil unrest in Sudan.
