FIFA has awarded Lesotho a 3-0 victory after ruling that South Africa fielded an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, in their March 21 clash.
The decision has dramatically reshaped the race in Group C, but Benin head coach Gernot Rohr has urged caution despite his side now leading the table.
“We will approach the last two matches with great humility. We still have two extremely difficult matches, away to Rwanda and Nigeria.
Meanwhile, South Africa will play twice at home. Of their ten games, seven are in South Africa,” Rohr told Foot-Africa.
He further lamented Benin’s long-running disadvantage of not playing on home soil.
“For two and a half years, we have not played a single match in Benin. All our matches are effectively away,” he added.
Following FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee ruling, Group C now sees Benin on top with 14 points (+4), edging South Africa on goal difference (14 points, +3).
Nigeria and Rwanda both sit on 11 points, while Lesotho (9 points) have revived their qualification hopes.
