ADDIS ABABA — Ethiopian soccer officials have admitted fielding an ineligible player in a World Cup qualifier and are resigned to being stripped of three points, potentially handing South Africa and Botswana a 2014 lifeline.

"We have evaluated the situation and we came across the issue that we made a mistake," Ethiopian Football Federation president Sahilu Gebremariam said.

Soccer’s world governing body, Fifa, announced on Sunday it was investigating allegations that Ethiopia had fielded an ineligible player in a qualifier against Botswana on June 8.

The announcement came hours after a 2-1 win over South Africa in Addis Ababa secured them top place in Group A and a place in the final phase of the African qualifiers for the 2014 finals in Brazil.

That win also appeared to have ended the hope of South Africa and Botswana reaching the finals in 2014 as Ethiopia had opened up what was an unassailable five-point lead in the group.

However, a place in the final round of qualifying will once again be up for grabs from Group A if, as expected, Ethiopia are docked three points for including a suspended player in their line-up on June 8.

If they are docked, Ethiopia will have 10 points, South Africa will be on eight and Botswana on seven, with each team having one match left to play in round two.

Ethiopia should not have fielded Minyahile Beyene in their 2-1 win in Botswana on June 8 as the midfielder was suspended for the match after picking up two yellow cards in previous qualifiers. He was yellow carded in the 1-1 draw with South Africa last June and then again in a 1-0 win over Botswana in March.

World Cup rules dictate that once a player has received two cautions in the qualifying campaign, he has an automatic one-match ban.

"We accepted the allegation, that this was inappropriate," Gebremariam said. "There won’t be an appeal from us being lodged.

"We are not frustrated at all since we are still leading the group. The only thing to do now is to concentrate on the next game."

In their last second-round matches on September 6, Ethiopia play away against the Central African Republic, while South Africa host Botswana.

Reuters