South Africa have been handed a blow in their hopes of qualifying for a first World Cup in 16 years.The 2010 hosts have been stripped of three points for fielding an ineligible player during their match against Lesotho in March.GettyFIFA have stripped South Africa of three points for fielding an ineligible player in World Cup qualifier[/caption]Teboho Mokoena played in their win over Lesotho in March despite being suspendedGettyMidfielder Teboho Mokoena appeared in the 2-0 victory despite being suspended for accumulating two yellow cards.As a result, FIFA’s disciplinary committee has now overturned the result and handed Lesotho a 3-0 win.The South African Football Association (SAFA) has also been fined £9,340.FIFA have given SAFA ten days to appeal against the decision.In a statement, the nation’s governing body said: “As SAFA, we are deeply disappointed with this unprecedented outcome noting that it was delivered by a single-member panel without reasons, and without affording the association an opportunity to present legal arguments.“The association confirms that we have requested written reasons for the judgement and intend to lodge a formal appeal with the FIFA Appeals Committee within the prescribed ten-day period under FIFA’s disciplinary rules.”The association added: “We apologise to the nation for this administrative oversight and will reflect on the steps to take at the conclusion of our qualifying campaign.”Meanwhile, Bafana Bafana manager Hugo Broos said: “We did something bad, we did something we shouldn’t do.”The stripping of points from South Africa has thrown their qualifying group for next summer’s finals wide open.Broos’ side had been on the brink of booking their place in Canada, Mexico and the USA.GettyThe South African FA has apologised for the error, which could cost them a place at the 2026 World Cup[/caption]It would be their first World Cup since hosting the tournament in 2010 and just their third appearance overall.After forfeiting their home win over Lesotho, South Africa have dropped to second in the table behind Benin on goal difference.Meanwhile, Nigeria, Rwanda and Lesotho can all still qualify from the six-team section with just two matches remaining.South Africa visit Zimbabwe on October 10 before hosting Rwanda four days later.As for Benin, they face trips to Rwanda and Nigeria to decide their World Cup fate.The Cheetahs, who are currently ranked 93rd in the FIFA World Rankings, have never qualified for the World Cup before.AFPBenin have leapfrogged Bafana Bafana at the top of their group with two matches remaining[/caption]Morocco and Tunisia have so far claimed two of the nine slots given to Africa for the expanded tournament.In African qualifying, the group winners advance directly to the World Cup.As for the runners-up, the four teams with the highest points contest a play-off to earn a spot in the inter-confederation play-offs, featuring sides from Asia, Africa, South America, Oceania and North America.The two final places in the 48-team field next summer will then be decided through two rounds of knockout matches.