Anxiety is running high among South African football fans after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) dismissed Equatorial Guinea’s appeal to overturn FIFA’s points-deduction ruling.

Equatorial Guinea had been stripped of three points and three goals for fielding striker Emilio Nsue, who was later cleared to represent the nation but had not received the required FIFA clearance at the time of key 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Nsue, a former Spain youth international, scored the decisive goals in 1-0 wins over Namibia and Liberia in November 2023. Six months later, FIFA awarded those opponents 3-0 technical victories, a sanction CAS has now upheld.

The ruling keeps Namibia in second place of their group, maintaining their pathway to the continental play-off round. But it has also intensified scrutiny on South Africa’s own World Cup qualifying campaign.

The South African Football Association (SAFA) faces a similar charge after midfielder Teboho Mokoena played against Lesotho in March despite reportedly being suspended for an accumulation of yellow cards. FIFA has yet to rule on the matter.

If South Africa—currently top of Group C with 17 points—are docked three points, they would drop to 14, level with Benin Republic. That scenario would leave Nigeria, on 11 points, just three points behind with two crucial fixtures remaining: away to Lesotho and a home clash against Benin in Uyo.

With the stakes rising and FIFA’s decision still pending, Bafana Bafana supporters are bracing for a tense finish to the qualifiers.