Former Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr has joined others in calling for FIFA to deduct three points from South Africa after they fielded an ineligible player during the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in March. The issue revolves around Bafana Bafana's inclusion of Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Teboho Mokoena, who had accumulated two yellow cards from previous matches, making him ineligible for the game against Lesotho.

South Africa's coach, Hugo Broos, has expressed his frustration over this administrative error, recognizing the potential cost of valuable points in their World Cup qualifying campaign. To date, FIFA has not released an official statement regarding South Africa's fielding of an ineligible player. FIFA World Cup qualifying rules clearly state that a player is ineligible for a subsequent match after receiving two yellow cards.

The controversy began after midfielder Teboho Mokoena participated in South Africa’s 2-0 win against Lesotho, despite reportedly being under suspension. Gernot Rohr, now coaching Benin Republic, has commented on the situation, urging FIFA to apply the same standards as in Nigeria’s 2018 case. In that instance, Nigeria was penalized for fielding Shehu Abdullahi, who had also accumulated two yellow cards, in a match against Algeria, even though Nigeria had already secured qualification.

Rohr emphasized the importance of judging South Africa’s case strictly according to the rules, as the African football community awaits FIFA’s decision before the next round of qualifiers. He recalled Nigeria’s experience, stating, "When I was the coach of the Super Eagles, we were lucky to have qualified for the World Cup with a game to spare. No one, not even the Algerian Desert Foxes, saw the point deduction coming. I expect FIFA to take the same decision like it was in the Nigeria case against South Africa for a similar offence."

Months after South Africa's administrative blunder, FIFA has yet to issue a statement, failing to respond to an official request regarding the potential deduction of three points and three goals. Despite the controversy, German coach Hugo Broos is close to qualifying South Africa for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, currently leading the table with 13 points.

Eric Chelle, another coach, has also commented on the situation, noting that if South Africa is penalized, Nigeria could potentially finish second in the group by winning their remaining matches. Chelle praised his players' performance during the qualifiers and their potential to secure a spot at the 2026 World Cup.