Throughout the history of African football, numerous national teams have faced penalties such as point deductions or other sanctions during FIFA World Cup qualification campaigns. The most recent case involves South Africa, penalized for fielding an ineligible player in their 2026 World Cup qualifier against Lesotho.
On March 21, 2025, Bafana Bafana included Teboho Mokoena, who was deemed ineligible, in their 2-0 win over Lesotho. Consequently, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee penalized South Africa by deducting three points, awarding Lesotho a 3-0 victory, and imposing a CHF 10,000 fine.
Using an ineligible player is a common cause for sanctions by FIFA, alongside other infractions such as governmental interference, crowd disturbances, or administrative errors.
These disciplinary actions have significantly influenced the qualification paths of several African teams aiming for football’s grandest tournament.
Here is a rundown of 10 African nations that have encountered such penalties, detailing their violations and the impact on their World Cup qualification efforts.
1. Equatorial Guinea
During the 2026 qualifiers, Equatorial Guinea faced sanctions after fielding Emilio Nsue, who had previously played for Spain’s youth teams and had not completed the necessary nationality change.
As a result, Equatorial Guinea forfeited several matches, were fined, and had points awarded to their opponents, effectively ending their hopes of advancing beyond the second round.
2. Sudan
In 2012, Sudan was penalized during the 2014 World Cup qualifiers for fielding Saif Ali, who was under suspension. Their win against Zambia was overturned to a 3-0 loss, costing them three points.
This ruling severely hampered Sudan’s chances in a closely contested group, ultimately contributing to their early exit from the qualification race.
3. Ethiopia
Ethiopia faced a similar fate in the 2014 qualifiers when they played Minyahil Teshome against Botswana despite his suspension. This led to a three-point deduction at a critical juncture.
Although Ethiopia managed to recover and reach the playoff round, the penalty nearly derailed what could have been a landmark qualification campaign.
4. Togo
Togo lost three points in the 2014 qualifiers after fielding Alaixys Romao, who was supposed to be suspended. Their victory over Cameroon was reversed to a 3-0 win for the Indomitable Lions.
This sanction extinguished Togo’s slim hopes of progressing, turning their qualification journey into an insurmountable challenge.
5. Burkina Faso
During the 2014 World Cup qualifiers, Burkina Faso was penalized for using an ineligible player, resulting in a three-point deduction and a 3-0 win awarded to Congo. The team also faced fines and warnings that distracted from their campaign.
Despite some strong performances, these administrative setbacks hindered their pursuit of a maiden World Cup appearance at the time.
6. Gabon
Gabon’s 2014 qualifying campaign was marred by a points deduction after fielding an ineligible player. The match was overturned, granting their opponents a 3-0 victory.
This penalty crushed Gabon’s faint hopes of advancing in a competitive group that included Morocco.
7. Nigeria
Nigeria was penalized during the 2018 World Cup qualifiers for fielding Shehu Abdullahi against Algeria while he was suspended. The match, which ended 1-1, was later awarded as a 3-0 win to Algeria.
Despite this setback, the Super Eagles successfully qualified for the World Cup.
8. South Africa
In the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, South Africa was penalized for fielding Teboho Mokoena, an ineligible player, in their match against Lesotho.
The result was overturned to a 3-0 loss, causing South Africa to drop a position in their group standings, falling behind Benin Republic on goal difference.