Rwanda coach Adel Amrouche is refusing to get caught up in the storm surrounding South Africa midfielder Teboho Mokoena’s eligibility in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers — www.naijnaira.com reports.
Speaking ahead of Rwanda’s crucial meeting with Nigeria in Uyo, the coach made it clear he would not be dragged into the FIFA dispute.
The issue began when Mokoena played against Lesotho despite already being on two yellow cards.
Lesotho quickly lodged a formal protest with FIFA, demanding South Africa be stripped of the points from that match.
Amrouche, who has experienced a FIFA ban in the past, warned about the risks of commenting on the politics of African football.
“This is Africa, you know the politics,” he said. “I don’t want to say anything so they don’t ban me again.”
Instead, he shifted his attention to the clash with Nigeria, where Rwanda desperately needs a result to keep their World Cup dream alive.
The Amavubi Stars have previously stunned Nigeria at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, but a repeat defeat could leave their hopes hanging by a thread.
South Africa, led by Hugo Broos, still sits in a strong position in Group C, even as the Mokoena dispute lingers.
Some experts believe the midfielder effectively served his suspension by missing the game against Benin, though Lesotho insists SAFA cannot decide which match qualifies as punishment.
With FIFA yet to give a verdict, the group remains on edge, and the outcome could reshape the qualification chances of Nigeria, Rwanda, and South Africa alike.
Article updated 4 weeks ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
