The race to the 2026 FIFA World Cup has taken a dramatic twist after FIFA announced a fresh wave of disciplinary sanctions that rocked African qualifiers. Equatorial Guinea were slammed with one of the heaviest penalties of the campaign, while South Africa controversially escaped punishment despite ongoing protests over Teboho Mokoena’s eligibility.
FIFA’s newly published four-page document listed a series of fines and point deductions for several national teams, including Argentina, Qatar, and Indonesia. But in a decision that has sparked outrage in Group C, the South African Football Association (SAFA) did not appear on the sanction list, despite Nigeria and Benin’s formal complaints that Mokoena should have been suspended.
The dispute traces back to South Africa’s 2–0 win over Lesotho in March, where Mokoena played 82 minutes. Records show he had already picked up yellow cards in earlier matches against Benin and Zimbabwe, which under FIFA rules should have triggered an automatic suspension. Nigeria and Benin argued that South Africa should forfeit the three points and be handed a 3–0 technical defeat, a result that would slash Bafana Bafana’s tally from 17 points to 14 and reignite Nigeria’s faltering campaign.
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While Group C hangs in suspense, Equatorial Guinea’s punishment was swift and brutal. FIFA and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled that striker Emilio Nsue, the country’s long-serving captain, was never properly cleared to switch nationality from Spain. Nsue, who had been the face of Equatorial Guinea’s golden run, was deemed ineligible, forcing FIFA to overturn their victories against Namibia and Liberia. The 1–0 wins were converted into 3–0 technical losses, costing Equatorial Guinea six points and plummeting them from second place in Group H to fifth.
The decision has effectively shattered Equatorial Guinea’s World Cup dream, while leaving South Africa’s fate entangled in controversy. With only two rounds of matches left and nine direct World Cup slots available for Africa, the stakes could not be higher. If FIFA eventually rules against South Africa, Group C could be thrown wide open, giving Nigeria and Benin a fresh lifeline.
For now, the spotlight falls squarely on FIFA’s disciplinary body. Critics argue that the inconsistent enforcement of rules risks undermining the integrity of the qualifiers, while fans across the continent wait to see whether the next chapter in this saga will bring justice or further controversy.
