A member of the Lesotho Football Association (LFA) has broken their silence regarding the controversy surrounding Teboho Mokoena's alleged ineligibility for their recent FIFA World Cup qualifier.
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The LFA has confirmed that they have lodged a query with FIFA regarding the accumulation of yellow cards by Bafana Bafana midfielder Mokoena.
The Mamelodi Sundowns conductor was booked in South Africa's first match of their qualification campaign against Benin in 2023 and again when they last faced Zimbabwe. World governing body statutes state that a player is to serve a one-match suspension after being booked in two separate matches before.
While there were 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in between South Africa's previous FIFA World Cup qualifier against Zimbabwe and their most recent one against Likuena, the aforementioned statutes claim that a suspension cannot be carried out in another competition, so the LFA does have a valid basis to query the Free State native's participation in their encounter at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium this past weekend.
"The question is, was a rule broken? If yes, we are fully entitled to protest and get the points. We were made aware of Mokoena's bookings and we have since sent a formal inquiry to CAF and FIFA," secretary-general Mokhosi Mohapi told Sowetan Live.
"We have heard that Nigeria also want to protest and they too are entitled to that because the result (last Friday) prejudices everyone. Suppose it was us who fielded a defaulter and got the points, Bafana would have done the same.
"Unfortunately, the law is the law and SAFA should have known about the bookings. We have no hard feelings. We want those points."
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The point of contention will now be whether Lesotho lodged the complaint within 24 hours after the match ended. FIFA's Disciplinary Code states, "Associations and their clubs are entitled to lodge protests. Protests must reach the Disciplinary Committee in writing via the FIFA Legal Portal indicating the relevant grounds, within 24 hours of the end of the match in question."
Leslie Notsi also shared his verdict in a post match press conference following their 1-1 draw to Rwanda.
''On this matter I can't say much, my focus was on today's match (against Rwanda),'' Notsi told the media.
"I think that one is up to the authorities and those in charge and I heard they will le complaints, but I don't know anything, I do not know if they have done it yet.'
