The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has started moves on establishing a case against South Africa for fielding an ineligible player in Theboho Mokoena in their 2-0 win over Lesotho during the last round of games in the world cup qualifiers, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
Mokoena was supposed to be suspended for the game on Friday after picking up two yellow cards in previous games. In match day 1, he was yellow carded against Benin Republic in the 54th minute, and picked up another booking in the 52nd minute in the matchday 4 game against Zimbabwe.
Per the 2026 world Cup preliminary rule book disciplinary page he was supposed to be suspended for accumulated bookings, but played for 81 minutes. A move that could likely cost them three points and three goals.
Fifa’s World Cup Qualifiers Rulebook, specifically sub-section 9, which clearly states that a player who receives two yellow cards in separate matches must serve a one-match suspension.
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A board member of the NFF says they are aware of the situation, and have already started their internal works to explore the situation, which will see the group leaders lose three points and drop to seven points if found guilty.
Nigeria suffered the same fate when they fielded Shehu Abdullahi in a game against Algeria in the world cup 2018 qualifiers and were made to lose the one point they gained in the game that ended 1-1, when it was discovered that Shehu should have been suspended for the game.
