Sports
2026 WC: FIFA Deducts South Africa Points Over Ineligible Player
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) has penalized South Africa for using an ineligible player in their match against Lesotho.
The decision comes two weeks after FIFA launched an investigation against the South African Football Association (SAFA) for fielding a suspended player, Teboho Mokoena, during a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier, which South Africa won 2–0 against Lesotho on March 21 in Polokwane.
The 28-year-old midfielder had accumulated two yellow cards earlier in the qualifiers, first against Benin in November 2023 and then against Zimbabwe in June 2024, which, under FIFA rules, triggered a one-match ban.
As a result, the match has been forfeited, and Lesotho has been awarded 3 goals and 3 points.
Additionally, the South African Football Association (SAFA) has been fined CHF 10,000, and Mokoena has received a warning.
The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has sanctioned the country for breaching article 19 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC) and article 14 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Preliminary Competition Regulations.
“The parties were notified of the terms of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee’s decision today. In accordance with the relevant provisions of the FDC, they have ten days in which to request a motivated decision, which, if requested, would subsequently be published on legal.fifa.com. The forfeiture decision remains subject to a potential appeal before the FIFA Appeal Committee,” a statement seen by Business Post said.
Pending an appeal, Lesotho has been bumped up from six points to nine, but will remain in fifth position, two points behind third-placed Nigeria and fourth-placed Rwanda on 11 points each.
Nigeria, whose hope of qualification, was dashed following a series of draws, will now be hoping for a sliver of opportunity to avoid missing another World Cup, having missed the 2022 edition in Qatar.
South Africa now have to beat Zimbabwe and Rwanda in their final two qualifiers in October, provided Benin do not slip up against Rwanda and Nigeria, who will have to win both of their remaining matches and hope Bafana Bafana slip up in either or both of their fixtures.
Sports
Sports Betting Site in Nigeria: Helabet. Every Bet Matters
In Nigeria, football no be ordinary game. It’s part of how we live every day. From early kick-off on Saturday to late Champions League matches during the week, football dey everywhere. Viewing centres full, group chats noisy, Twitter dey hot. Everybody get opinion, everybody sabi coach.
Naturally, betting don become part of the football culture. But Nigerians don wise pass before. People no dey rush into any platform again. If a betting site no dey stable, no dey transparent, or dey give withdrawal wahala, Nigerians go drop am sharp sharp.
That’s why Helabet dey slowly but surely find its space as a betting site in Nigeria wey people fit actually rely on.
Betting site in Nigeria
To run a successful betting site in Nigeria, you must understand Nigerians very well. We like things straight. No stress. No confusion. No unnecessary grammar.
Helabet keeps things simple. Registration no hard. The platform clean and easy to move around. You no need ask anybody “how do I bet?” once you open the site. Everything dey clear from the beginning.
Trust na big factor. Nigerians no dey joke with their money. Once people notice say withdrawals dey smooth and no unnecessary delay, confidence go build naturally. That’s how betting sites survive here — not by noise, but by consistency.
Helabet fits into that category of platforms wey people dey quietly stick with because e dey do wetin e promise.
Online sports betting
These days, most people dey bet with their phone. No be everybody get time to go betting shop or sit down for long. With online sports betting, you fit place your bet anywhere — at home, at work break, or even inside traffic.
Helabet supports this lifestyle well. The site works smoothly on mobile, and markets load fast. Football dey dominate, as expected, but other sports dey available too for people wey like mix things up.
Whether na Premier League, Champions League, international matches, or weekend fixtures, options dey plenty. The odds dey fair enough to keep serious bettors interested, not just people wey dey try luck.
For many Nigerians, betting no be about rushing. Na about reading the game and placing smart bets. Helabet allows that kind of approach.

Live sports betting
This is where things get interesting. Live sports betting na for people wey dey follow matches closely.
Game fit change anytime. One goal, one red card, one mistake — everything turn. With Helabet, you fit react while the match dey go on. Markets update fast, and you no dey struggle to place bet before odds change.
For Nigerians wey dey watch match and dey say “this game still get something,” live betting gives that chance to act in real time, not after everything don finish.
It makes watching football more engaging, especially for people wey understand how momentum works in a match.
Why Helabet Makes Sense for Nigerians
Helabet no dey try too hard to impress. E just focuses on doing the basics well — smooth betting, solid online sports betting, reliable live sports betting, and stress-free experience.
For Nigerians wey dey look for a betting site in Nigeria wey understand how football and betting really work here, Helabet dey earn its place gradually.
No noise. No hype. Just steady service — and for betting, that’s what really matters.
Sports
2025 AFCON Final: CAF Suspends Coach Thiaw, Hakimi, Others
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Disciplinary Board of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has imposed a series of sanctions on the Senegal and Morocco as well as some players and officials, following conducts believed to be inappropriate at the dramatic 2025 African Cup of Nations final nearly two weeks ago.
In a statement posted on its website on Wednesday night, CAF said the sanctions were handed down for violations of its Disciplinary Code, including breaches of the principles of fair play, loyalty and integrity, during and after the final match.
As part of the decisions against Senegal, CAF suspended the head coach of the Senegalese national team, Pape Bouna Thiaw, for five official CAF matches for his “unsporting conduct” and “for bringing the game into disrepute.”
“Mr Pape Bouna Thiaw was also fined $100,000,” a part of the statement read.
Recall that Senegal defeated Morocco 1-0 in the January 18 final in Rabat that was delayed for over 14 minutes after a controversial penalty was awarded in the dying minutes of the game, triggering the Senegalese coach to instruct his team to leave the pitch.
CAF also decided to “suspend the Senegalese national team player, Mr Iliman Cheikh Baroy Ndiaye for two official CAF matches, for his unsporting behaviour towards the referee.
“To suspend Senegalese national team player, Mr Ismaila Sarr for two official CAF matches for his unsporting behaviour towards the referee.
“To fine the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football (FSF), $300,000 for the improper conduct of its supporters, which brought the game into disrepute in violation of the CAF Disciplinary Code principles of fair play and integrity.
“To fine the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football (FSF), $300,000 for the unsporting conduct of their players and technical staff in violation of the CAF Disciplinary Code principles of fair play, loyalty and integrity. The unsporting conduct of their players and the technical staff also brought the game into disrepute.
“To fine the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football (FSF), $15,000 for the misconduct of its national team, due to five of its players having received cautions.”
With regard to Morocco, CAF suspended national team defender, Achraf Hakimi, for two official CAF matches, with one of the matches suspended for one year from the date of the decision, for unsporting behaviour. Also, PSV Midfielder Ismaël Saibari was suspended for three official CAF matches and fined $100,000 for the same offence.
The Morocco team was fined $200,000 for the inappropriate behaviour of stadium ball boys during the final.
CAF also imposed a fine of $100,000 on the Moroccan federation for the improper conduct of its players and technical staff, who invaded the VAR review area and obstructed the referee’s work.
An additional fine of $15,000 was issued for the use of lasers by Moroccan supporters during the match.
Meanwhile, CAF also ruled on a protest lodged by Morocco concerning alleged violations of Articles 82 and 84 of the Africa Cup of Nations regulations by the Senegal national team.
“The CAF Disciplinary Board rejected the protest lodged by the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football regarding alleged violations by the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football of Articles 82 and 84 of the Regulations of the Africa Cup of Nations, relating to the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 Final,” the statement added.
Sports
CAF Rejects Morocco’s Request Strip Senegal of 2025 AFCON Title
By Dipo Olowookere
The request by the Moroccan Football Federation to upturn the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) titled won by Senegal in Morocco on Sunday, January 18, 2026, has been rejected by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Morocco asked the football regulatory body on the continent to declare it the winner of the competition based on Articles 82 and 84 of the Regulations of the Africa Cup of Nations.
The final ended chaotic after Senegal initially walked off the pitch for almost 20 minutes due to a late penalty kick awarded to Morocco, which was believed was to ensure the host nation win the contest.
But after a review of the protest lodged by Morocco, which hosted the tournament, the CAF Disciplinary Board concluded that the articles of the game were not violated.
Business Post gathered that Article 82 states that, “If, for any reason whatsoever, a team withdraws from the competition or does not report for a match, or refuses to play or leaves the ground before the regular end of the match without the authorisation of the referee, it shall be considered looser and shall be eliminated for good from the current competition. The same shall apply for the teams previously disqualified by decision of CAF.
Article 84 says, “The team which contravenes the provisions of articles 82 and 83 shall be eliminated for good from the competition. This team will lose its match by 3-0 unless the opponent has scored a more advantageous result at the time when the match was interrupted, in this case this score will be maintained. The Organising Committee may adopt further measures.
In a statement on Wednesday, CAF, however, fined the Senegalese Football Federation $615,000 “for the improper conduct of its supporters, which brought the game into disrepute in violation of the CAF Disciplinary Code principles of fair play and integrity” as well as “for the unsporting conduct of their players and technical staff in violation of the CAF Disciplinary Code principles of fair play, loyalty and integrity. The unsporting conduct of their players and the technical staff also brought the game into disrepute.”
The federation was also sanctioned “for the misconduct of its National Team, due to five (5) of its players having received cautions.”
The national team coach, Mr Pape Bouna Thiaw, was suspended for five official CAF matches for his unsporting conduct, while two players, Mr Iliman Cheikh Baroy Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr, were suspended for two official CAF matches each, for their unsporting behaviour towards the referee. Also, another team player,
Also, the Moroccan Football Federation was fined by CAF $315,000 “for the inappropriate behaviour of the stadium’s ball boys during the aforementioned match, “the improper conduct of their National Team players and technical staff, who invaded the VAR review area and obstructed the referee’s work, in violation of the principles of fair play and integrity, and “the use of lasers by its supporters during the aforementioned match.”
CAF further the Moroccan team captain, Mr Achraf Hakimi, for two official CAF matches, with one (1) these matches being suspended for one year from the date of this decision, for his unsporting behaviour.”
His teammate, Mr Ismaël Saibari, was suspended for three official CAF matches for his unsporting behaviour, and fined $100,000.
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