2026 WC Qualifier: Panic In South Africa As FIFA Sanctions Equatorial Guinea Over Ineligible Player

Concerns were mounting among shot authorities and supporters successful South Africa pursuing the caller ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which upheld FIFA’s determination to penalise Equatorial Guinea for fielding an ineligible subordinate during the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

The West African federation has been docked six points—three from each of their victories against Namibia and Liberia—after striker Emilio Nsue was recovered to beryllium ineligible to correspond the nationalist squad astatine the clip of the matches. Nsue scored the winning goals successful some fixtures, which ended successful constrictive 1-0 victories past November. However, FIFA aboriginal annulled those results, awarding 3-0 method victories to Equatorial Guinea’s opponents successful May.

The ruling arose from the uncovering that Nsue did not person the indispensable clearance to power his planetary allegiance from Spain, wherever helium had participated astatine younker level. Despite having represented Equatorial Guinea for implicit a decade, FIFA declared his information invalid, a determination that was upheld by CAS pursuing an entreaty lodged by the Equatorial Guinea Football Federation.

This ruling carries important implications not lone for Equatorial Guinea’s hopes of qualifying but besides for South Africa, who whitethorn beryllium facing a akin fate. The South African Football Association (SAFA) is presently taxable to a FIFA probe for fielding Teboho Mokoena successful a Group C lucifer against Lesotho successful March. Mokoena had accrued 2 yellowish cards successful erstwhile fixtures and should person been serving a suspension during that match. Should FIFA regularisation against South Africa, they hazard losing the 3 points gained from the triumph implicit Lesotho.

Such a determination would dramatically change the scenery of Group C. Currently sitting connected 17 points, South Africa would driblet to 14, putting them level with Benin. Nigeria, presently successful 3rd spot with 11 points, could prehend the accidental to adjacent the spread successful the remaining rounds, peculiarly arsenic they are acceptable to look some Lesotho (away) and Benin (at location successful Uyo).

For Namibia, the CAS ruling allows them to stay successful 2nd spot successful their group, frankincense preserving their pathway to the continental playoff round. Meanwhile, South Africa is near grappling with uncertainty arsenic the situation unfolds.