Nigeria, Sept. 17 -- The road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup took another twist this week as world football's governing body released its latest list of disciplinary sanctions, and conspicuously absent was any mention of South Africa, despite ongoing controversy over the eligibility of midfielder Teboho Mokoena.

The four-page document, published, detailed a range of punishments meted out to national associations during the qualifiers. While countries like Qatar, Indonesia, and Argentina appeared on the list, the South African Football Association (SAFA) remained untouched, raising fresh questions about the Mokoena saga and its potential impact on Group C.

Nigeria and Benin have both lodged formal protests after South Africa's 2-0 win over L...