South Africa's six-match unbeaten run in Group C of CAF World Cup qualifying had them in a strong position to reach the finals in North America next year.
A hard-fought 1-1 draw against Nigeria in Bloemfontein in September left Hugo Broos's side top of the standings, three points ahead of closest challengers Benin.
Only the top team of each of the nine CAF groups is guaranteed progress to the finals, with the four best runners-up to contest a spot in the inter-confederation playoffs.
But a controversial error during a 2-0 home win over Lesotho on March 21 now threatens to derail Bafana Bafana's progress.
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South Africa points deduction, explained
Midfielder Teboho Mokoena (pictured) started and played 81 minutes for South Africa against Lesotho, despite the fact he should have served a suspension for yellow-card accumulation.
On September 29, a FIFA disciplinary committee ruled that South Africa had breached competition rules and overturned the result, awarding Lesotho a 3-0 forfeit victory.
The South African Football Association (SAFA) was also fined 10,000 Swiss Francs ($12,500/£9,340) and has 10 days to appeal against the decision.
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Can South Africa still qualify for the 2026 World Cup?
The Lesotho game now being classed as a 3-0 defeat has nudged South Africa down to second in Group C on 14 points, behind Benin on goal difference.
Broos' men will be keen to regain top spot because their points haul has them ranked eighth out of the nine second-placed teams in CAF qualification, albeit just two points behind Madagascar and DR Congo in second and third.
South Africa's fixtures also fall pretty kindly. Next up is a match on October 10 against Group C's bottom team Zimbabwe, who they beat 3-1 last June.
Even though that match is technically classed as a Zimbabwe "home" game, it is being played in Durban, South Africa because Zimbabwe does not have a CAF- and FIFA-approved stadium to host home matches.
In the final round of qualifying, South Africa play Rwanda — the only team to beat them on the field during qualification — but they have the advantage of being on home soil at Mbombela Stadium.
Has South Africa ever qualified for the World Cup?
If South Africa still manage to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, it will be their fourth time at the finals.
Bafana Bafana reached back-to-back tournaments in 1998 and 2002 and participated as hosts in 2010.
They have an overall World Cup record of two wins, four draws and three defeats from nine games and have never progressed beyond the group stage.
South Africa's apartheid-era government meant the country was suspended from FIFA, first in 1961 and then again in 1964, before being expelled in 1976.
After the apartheid system collapsed, the South Africa national team played its first game on July 7, 1992, against Cameroon in Durban.
The wilderness years meant they were ineligible to attempt qualification for the seven World Cups between 1966 and 1990. Prior to that, South Africa were not a FIFA member.