Lesotho not yet done with Mokoena saga ahead of 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Bafana Bafana - 'Even if Teboho walks on the pitch we will protest'

South Africa and Lesotho are set to lock horns in Group C's 2026 FIFA World Cup on Friday, September 5.

Bafana Bafana are top of the pool with 13 points from the six matches they have played so far, while the Crocodiles have collected six.

Hugo Broos' men come into the match, which will be played at the Free State Stadium, as favourites.

Lesotho have been pushing for Bafana Bafana to be docked three points for fielding Teboho Mokoena, who wasn't supposed to feature owing to the two yellow cards he had been shown previously.

The Crocodiles lodged a complaint later, but FIFA have not yet acted on the same.

Despite Mokoena not featuring in the game against Benin, Lesotho FA secretary general Mokhosi Mohapi insists he was just dropped and didn't serve the suspension.

The administrator has now insisted that they will protest if Mokoena plays on Friday.

"Even if Teboho Mokoena just walks on the pitch, we’ll protest,” he told SoccerBeat.

The regulation is clear; it says an automatic suspension for fielding an ineligible player. So, he was ineligible to play the Lesotho match [in March], not the Benin one. 

"The Benin one, he was simply dropped for fear of reprisal. So this one, we will lodge [a protest] immediately; we see him on the list. You know what? He need not even walk onto the pitch. 

"As long as he's on the team list, we are lodging the protest," Mohapi concluded.

It is interesting to see how SAFA will handle the situation, eventually, since Mokoena is needed in the fixture.

Six points against Lesotho and Nigeria, respectively, might seal Bafana Bafana's spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup to be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.