Tag: South Africa

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World Cup qualifiers: FIFA opens case against South Africa

The world’s football governing body, FIFA, has officially opened disciplinary actions against South Africa for fielding an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, during a 2026 World Cup qualifying match against Lesotho in March, PUNCH Online reports.

South African outlet, SABC Sport, reports that FIFA has levelled charges against the South African Football Association and Mokoena.

The report stated, “In a letter to SAFA dated September 15, 2025 – seen by the public broadcaster, FIFA confirmed that both the player and the association face charges of breaching several disciplinary regulations, including the fielding of an ineligible player.

“The case has been referred to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, with SAFA and Mokoena given six days to submit their response.”

Bafana Bafana are facing charges after fielding Mokoena, who was ineligible to play in March’s 2026 World Cup qualifier against Lesotho.

The 28-year-old midfielder had accumulated two yellow cards earlier in the qualifiers – first against Benin in November 2023 and then against Zimbabwe in June 2024 – which, under FIFA rules, triggered a one-match ban.

If found guilty, Bafana Bafana could be forced to forfeit the result of the match, which would hand Lesotho a 3–0 victory on paper, while other sanctions such as fines or suspensions could also be imposed.

South Africa currently lead Group C with 17 points, but a potential deduction will see them level on points with the Benin Republic (14) and also reduce the gap between them and Nigeria to three points, leaving the chances of picking the automatic ticket open with two games to go.

Lesotho, meanwhile, will find their tally bumped up from six points to nine, but will remain in fifth position, two points behind third-placed Nigeria and fourth-placed Rwanda on 11 points each.

South Africa will face Zimbabwe and Rwanda in their final two qualifiers in October.

Meanwhile, Nigeria will face Lesotho (away) and the Benin Republic (home), with the hope that South Africa slip up in either or both of their fixtures.

FIFA has recently punished Equatorial Guinea for also fielding an ineligible player, Emilio Nsue, during the qualifiers, and the decision was upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sports. (Punch)

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CHAN: Uganda draw 3-3 with South Africa, Algeria qualify

Co-hosts Uganda fought back from 3-1 down to salvage a 3-3 draw with South Africa on Monday to qualify from Group C for their first-ever African Nations Championship quarter-finals.

At the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi, the 2023 losing finalists Algeria were held to a goalless draw by a 10-man Niger, but the result was enough to take them to the last eight for the second successive tournament.

The stakes were high for Uganda, which needed to beat South Africa at the Mandela National Stadium in Kampala to be certain of qualifying for the first time.

The Cranes, who had never beaten South Africa, dominated the first half, and Jude Ssemugabi broke the deadlock just after the half hour with a powerful strike.

But South Africa fought back with two quick goals after resumption.

Veteran Amazulu defender Ramahlwe Mphahlele grabbed the equaliser in the 52nd minute, with Thabiso Kutumela putting South Africa ahead six minutes later.

But South Africa fought back with two quick goals after resumption.

Veteran Amazulu defender Ramahlwe Mphahlele grabbed the equaliser in the 52nd minute, with Thabiso Kutumela putting South Africa ahead six minutes later.

Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo appeared to wrap up the game when he put Bafana Bafana into a 3-1 lead in the 83rd minute, but Uganda struck back in dramatic style with two late goals.

Skipper Allen Okello fired home from the penalty spot two minutes from time after Ivan Ahimbisibwe had been fouled in the box.

Uganda were then awarded another penalty deep in injury time after VAR picked up a handball. Rogers Torach blasted home to level the scores and send Uganda into the quarter-finals, with South Africa tumbling out.

Uganda topped Group C with seven points while Algeria and South Africa tied on six, the Desert Foxes qualifying with a superior goal difference.

Uganda’s qualification means all three co-hosts – Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania – have progressed into the quarter-finals. (Punch)

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Super Falcons edge South Africa 2-1 to qualify for WAFCON finals

Nigeria’s Super Falcons, on Tuesday, secured a spot in the final of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over South Africa’s Banyana Banyana in a tense semi-final clash.

The match, played with high intensity, saw the Super Falcons take the lead in the first half through Rasheedat Ajibade, who calmly converted from the penalty spot in the 45th minute to give Nigeria a 1-0 advantage heading into the break.

Earlier in the game, South Africa were forced into a substitution in the 26th minute after striker Hildah Magaia was withdrawn due to injury, with Thubelihle Makhubela coming on in her place.

South Africa responded strongly in the second half and levelled the score in the 60th minute when Linda Motlhalo converted a penalty to make it 1-1.

With the game seemingly headed for extra time, Nigeria found the winner deep into stoppage time.

Michelle Alozie struck in the 90+4th minute after a setup from Esther Okoronkwo, sealing a dramatic win for the Falcons.

Substitutions from both sides added to the pace and physicality of the match, with the Super Falcons showing greater composure in the final moments.

The victory sees Nigeria book a place in the WAFCON final, continuing their dominance on the continental stage and putting them within reach of another title. (Punch)

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Mother who sold six-year-old daughter given life term in South Africa

A South African woman convicted of kidnapping and trafficking her six-year-old daughter has been sentenced to life in prison, along with her two accomplices.

The jail terms for Racquel “Kelly” Smith, her boyfriend Jacquen Appollis and their friend Steveno van Rhyn come more than a year after Joshlin Smith mysteriously disappeared outside her home in Saldanha Bay, near Cape Town.

Despite a highly publicised search for the girl, who vanished in February 2024, she is yet to be found.

South African prosecutors say she was sold into slavery however this was not definitively proven during the trial.

It is believed that Smith, who was addicted to drugs, needed the money.

The sentencing follows an eight-week trial that captivated South Africa, with witnesses and prosecutors making a number of shocking allegations.

Judge Nathan Erasmus said he “drew no distinction” between the trio in handing down the sentences.

“On the human trafficking charge, you are sentenced to life imprisonment. On the kidnapping charge, you are sentenced to 10 years imprisonment,” he said to loud applause in the courtroom.

Judge Erasmus took over an hour to deliver the sentence and was measured as he gave a brief summary of the case and highlighted points that stood out during the trial.

He rebuked the trio, especially Van Rhyn and Smith, saying they showed no remorse for their actions.

“There is nothing that I can find that is redeeming or deserving of a lesser sentence,” he said.

He also spoke of the impact their conduct had on the community of Middelpos, where the girl lived, saying it had left residents “fractured”.

Smith, 35, and her accomplices showed no emotion as their sentences were read out in the community centre in Saldanha where the trial was held to allow residents to attend proceedings.

Police said the search for the little girl would continue, even beyond South Africa’s borders.

“We will not rest until we find [out] what happened to Joshlin. We are continuing day and night looking for her,” Western Cape police commissioner Thembisile Patekile told local media.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomed the sentence and lauded the work of its team in proving that Joshlin was “sold [and] delivered to the intended buyer” for the purpose of “exploitation, namely slavery or practices similar to slavery”.

During the trial, the identity of the “intended buyer” was never revealed.

The BBC asked the NPA for further details, however a spokesperson was unable to provide any.

Emotions were high ahead of the sentencing, with angry community members saying the trio should get a “harsh sentence because they deserve it”. (BBC)