The Secretary General of the Lesotho Football Association (LeFA), Mr. Mokhosi Mohapi, has officially lodged a protest with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) regarding South Africa’s national team, Bafana Bafana, for fielding midfielder Teboho Mokoena in Friday’s CAF Group C World Cup qualifier match. The game ended in a 2-0 victory for Bafana Bafana over Lesotho’s Likuena.
Mohapi revealed that he was initially referred to FIFA and is now awaiting further developments on the issue. The controversy centers on claims that Mokoena, who had accumulated two yellow cards in earlier World Cup qualifiers, should have been suspended for the match but was still included in the starting lineup.
The incident has sparked outrage among football fans across various African nations. Many have taken to social media to demand that FIFA penalize South Africa, with calls for the points and goals from the match to be docked from Bafana Bafana and awarded to Lesotho instead. Fans argue that this is a clear violation of World Cup qualification rules and should be addressed accordingly.
Despite the mounting controversy, Bafana Bafana’s head coach, Hugo Broos, declined to comment when approached by the media. “I cannot comment on that at this point. It is a matter that will be resolved in the coming days, so I ask that you do not expect any further information from me. No comment,” Broos stated.
The matter now rests with FIFA, and both the Lesotho Football Association and football fans are awaiting the resolution of the protest, hoping for a fair ruling in line with the competition’s regulations. The outcome of this dispute could have significant implications for both teams as the World Cup qualifiers continue.
