FIFA has sanctioned the South African Football Association after it fielded midfielder Teboho Mokoena in a World Cup qualifier against Lesotho despite the player being ineligible.

The match, played on March 21 2025, formed part of the preliminary competition for the 2026 World Cup.

By selecting Mokoena, SAFA was found to have breached Article 19 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code and Article 14 of the World Cup 2026 preliminary competition regulations.

FIFA confirmed that South Africa must forfeit the fixture by a score of 3-0 in favour of Lesotho. Safa has also been ordered to pay a fine of 10,000 Swiss francs (£9,000), while Mokoena has been issued with a warning.

In a statement on Monday, FIFA said the decision had already been communicated to the parties involved.

“The parties were notified of the terms of the Fifa Disciplinary Committee’s decision today,” it read.

“In accordance with the relevant provisions of the FDC, they have ten days in which to request a motivated decision, which, if requested, would subsequently be published on legal.fifa.com. The forfeiture decision remains subject to a potential appeal before the FIFA Appeal Committee.”

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has congratulated Super Falcons and Brighton & Hove Albion’s goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie on her fourth-place finish at this year’s Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris on Monday night.

Ademola Olajire, Head of NFF’s Media and Communications department stated this is in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

Nnadozie, who has been Africa’s Best Goalkeeper for the past two years, was also named Goalkeeper of the tournament for this summer’s Women Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) finals in Morocco.

She played a key role in Nigeria’s 10th triumph at WAFCON.

“We heartily congratulate Nnadozie on her fourth-place finish in the race.

It is a commendable feat given the calibre of goalkeepers she was up against.

“Finishing fourth is a big achievement and we believe in her capacity to win this trophy very soon,” NFF General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, said.

Sanusi also gave kudos to Super Falcons’ Head Coach Justine Madugu, who also finished fourth in the Women’s Coach of the Year category.

“Madugu’s feat further underscores the fact that the NFF was right to have given him the Super Falcons’ job, which had earlier been validated with him leading the team to victory.

“We congratulate him on this feat and wish him victory in the awards in the coming years.”

Nnadozie finished fourth behind England and Chelsea FC’s Hannah Hampton, who took home the Trophée Yachine, Gotham FC’s Ann-Katrin Berger and Barcelona FC’s Cata Coll.

She however, finished above Arsenal FC’s Daphne van Domselaar in the Top Five.

Madugu was fourth in a race won by Sarina Wiegman, who led England to the UEFA Women’s Championship title, and which also included Chelsea’s Sonia Bompastor, Brazil’s Arthur Elias and Arsenal FC’s Renée Slegers.

Nigeria’s Women’s Under-18 Handball team defeated Kenya 37-35, wrapping up their group stage campaign at the ongoing Africa Women’s Youth Handball Championship in Oran, Algeria. In the match played on Friday, Nigeria led 18-14 at half-time, displaying early dominance and composure before Kenya mounted a spirited second-half fightback.

In spite of the pressure, Nigeria held firm in the closing minutes to secure a narrow victory, finishing their group stage run on a positive note. Report says that Nigeria placed third in Group A with five points, behind Tunisia and Angola, who earned ten and eight points, respectively. Nigeria will now face host nation Algeria in the fifth-place playoff on Saturday at 4 p.m. Daily Asset recalls that Nigeria lost 50-25 to Tunisia in their opening match on Tuesday. They then drew 31-31 with Benin on Wednesday in their second group fixture. Nigeria narrowly lost 23-20 to Angola in their third group game on Thursday. The 2025 African Women’s Youth Handball Championship, which began on Sept. 14 in Oran, will end on Sept. 21. The tournament also doubles as a qualifier for the 2026 Women’s Youth World Handball Championship. (NAN)