By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
South Africa took a massive step towards World Cup qualification with a convicing 2-0 victory over Benin at the Felix Houphouet Boigny in Ivory Coast.
Bafana Bafana claimed the win thanks to second half goals from Lyle Foster and Jayden Adams, with the result taking them to 13 points from six matches.
However Bafana Bafana’s World Cup qualification journey has taken an unexpected twist, with an administrative oversight threatening to dent their hard-earned progress.
Midfield Teboho Mokoena, instrumental in South Africa’s campaign, should have been suspended for the Lesotho match after accumulating two yellow cards in separate qualifiers.
Yet, he played in last Friday’s win – putting Bafana Bafana in potential breach of FIFA regulations.
According to the rulebook, a player with two bookings across different matches must serve a one-game suspension.
Lesotho, however, missed their chance to challenge the error within FIFA’s strict two-hour protest window, with an extended 24-hour appeal window, leaving the matter hanging in uncertainty.
If FIFA intervenes, South Africa could face a three-point deduction, which could shake up Group C and complicate Bafana Bafana’s road to a World Cup ticket.
Elsewhere in the group, Nigeria drew 1-1 with Zimbabwe in Uyo and Rwanda were held 1-1 by Lesotho in Kigali.
Rwanda are second in the group on eight points, tied with third-placed Benin, while Nigeria (seven), Lesotho (six) and Zimbabwe (four) make up the remainder of the log.
The teams will return to World Cup Qualifying action in September, with South Africa playing Lesotho (away) and Nigeria (home), while Benin will take on Zimbabwe and Lesotho (both home).