The great escape has happened forl Bafana Bafana, who got a big boost in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign after football world ruling body FIFA chose not to punish them for fielding an ineligible player during their Match Day 5 qualifier against Lesotho.
Confirmed hours before South Africa’s high-stakes qualifier against Nigeria in Bloemfontein, the ruling means that Bafana Bafana remain on course to secure a slot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
In a X post on Tuesday, FIFA clarified that should South Africa defeat Nigeria and Benin fail to beat Lesotho in their respective matches, Hugo Broos’ side will book their ticket to the global showpiece.
This ruling is coming as a huge relief for the South African Football Association (SAFA), as it effectively overlooks what would normally be a punishable offense under FIFA regulations.
