As the race to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup intensifies, Nigeria’s hopes of securing a spot in the global tournament could receive an unexpected boost.
The Super Eagles are closely monitoring a pending FIFA decision that could result in a three-point deduction for South Africa due to alleged rule violations during a qualifier match against Lesotho.
South Africa, currently leading Group C with 10 points, stand five clear of second-placed Rwanda and six ahead of Nigeria, with four matches remaining. However, their grip on the top spot may be at risk following claims that they fielded an ineligible player in their 2-0 victory over Lesotho in March.
Midfielder Teboho Mokoena, a key figure in that match, was reportedly suspended at the time, having accumulated two yellow cards earlier in the qualifying campaign.
He was booked in South Africa’s opening match against Benin and again during their clash with Zimbabwe. According to FIFA regulations, a player who receives two cautions in separate matches within the same competition must serve a one-match suspension — a rule Mokoena appeared to violate by featuring in the Lesotho fixture.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is currently awaiting an official ruling from FIFA on the matter. Should the three-point penalty be applied to South Africa, Nigeria would find themselves back in strong contention for a qualification spot, potentially reshaping the dynamics of the group before their crucial clash with Bafana Bafana in Johannesburg.
FIFA has yet to release a statement, but the verdict is expected ahead of Nigeria’s upcoming encounter with South Africa. A decision in Nigeria’s favor would reignite their World Cup hopes and turn the spotlight squarely back on a qualification campaign that had appeared to be slipping away.
