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Bafana Bafana received a World Cup 2014 lifeline on Monday when Fifa confirmed that the Ethiopian Football Federation had been sanctioned for fielding an ineligible player in their qualifier against Botswana on the 8th of June.
The match was declared to be forfeited and Fifa awarded a 3-0 result in favour of Botswana.
What it means is that Bafana now trail the group leaders Ethiopia by two points, rather than five, and hold a superior goal difference headed into the last of the second-round matches.
South Africa, who face Botswana at home in September, can now progress to the third round of qualifying provided they win and Ethiopia either draw or lose against Central African Republic in an away fixture.
