JOHANNESBURG (AP) — The South African Football Association said it plans to appeal a FIFA ruling that stripped the men’s national team of a win in 2026 World Cup qualifying over fielding an ineligible player.

The FIFA judgment on Monday to overturn a 2-0 win against Lesotho in March as a 3-0 loss by default knocked South Africa off top spot with two rounds left in a qualifying group that ends in two weeks.

SAFA did not have the chance to make legal arguments to the single FIFA judge who decided the case, it claimed in a statement late Monday.

“As SAFA, we are deeply disappointed with this unprecedented outcome,” it said, while acknowledging Teboho Mokoena should not have played against Lesotho after getting yellow cards in two previous games. Two cautions activate a one-game ban.

“We a

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