The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has firmly denied reports suggesting that FIFA has cleared South Africa of wrongdoing in the eligibility case involving midfielder Teboho Mokoena.
Rumours had circulated earlier in the week claiming FIFA, through its official X handle, had given Bafana Bafana the all-clear despite questions over Mokoena’s status.
At the heart of the controversy is whether Mokoena should have featured in South Africa’s World Cup qualifier against Lesotho. The midfielder allegedly accumulated two yellow cards earlier in the campaign, which under FIFA’s rules would have automatically suspended him for that fixture.
If confirmed, his participation could carry severe consequences, including a three-point deduction, provided Lesotho lodged a protest within 24 hours of the match’s conclusion.
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NFF refutes “unofficial” FIFA communication
Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), NFF Director of Communications Ademola Olajire was quick to debunk the claims. He stressed that no official correspondence had been received from FIFA regarding the matter. According to him, a social media post cannot be regarded as a formal decision.
“There has been no official communication to that effect. What people are reporting is simply a tweet on their X account. We don’t regard that as official communication,” Olajire clarified, stressing the need for patience until FIFA makes a formal pronouncement.
For now, the group standings remain unchanged, with South Africa leading comfortably on 17 points after eight games. Their position is bolstered by a strong campaign that has kept them ahead of second-placed Benin Republic, who sit on 14 points.
Meanwhile, Rwanda and Nigeria remain level on 11 points, although the Super Eagles are under increasing pressure to revive their qualifying campaign. Lesotho and Zimbabwe round off the six-team group with six and four points respectively.
The NFF insists its focus remains on ensuring Nigeria’s qualification push stays on track, while also closely monitoring developments surrounding the Mokoena case. For now, the Federation has urged fans and media outlets to rely only on official FIFA communications rather than speculative reports.
Tags: Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, FIFA, Teboho Mokoena, South Africa, eligibility, NFF Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire.
