With every Match Day, Nigeria’s hopes of playing at the 2026 World Cup become slimmer.
A day before the Super Eagles host Rwanda, South Africa thrashed Lesotho 3-0 on their own turf.
Before the game, Mokhosi Mohapi, the Secretary-General of the Lesotho Football Association, LFA, threatened a protest.
Mohapi warned Bayana Bayana not to include Teboho Mokoena in their squad for the game on Friday.
Mokoena had picked up two yellow cards, making him ineligible to play in the first game against Lesotho; however, he still featured.
“If South Africa dare play Teboho Mokoena, we will lodge a protest and will tell you why,” Mohapi said on Soccer Beat.
“We will lodge a protest which goes back to the other match, because he has never served the suspension that he was meant to have served.
“Against Bafana, we are going to wait three minutes into the match and then protest.”
Mokoena started the game. There was no protest. And within 15 minutes, Mohau Nkota had given South Africa the lead.
Many would argue Lesotho had a genuine case to be heard.
As per FIFA rules, South Africa should have gotten a three-point deduction, if the opposing team submits a protest within 24 hours of the match’s conclusion.
But it appears that process is up in the air.
“It all comes down to the dynamics of organised politics and commercial outlay, if I dare say so,” Telema Davies, the Managing Partner and Sports Industry Market Lead at DMPartners, tells NEWSUNPLUG.
“It really isn’t about the probability of points deduction from South Africa if it is established that there is a cause for such an action.
“As much as the powers that walk in the corridors of football politics engender fair play, it shouldn’t be a hard call to make.
“It’s difficult to see South Africa fall through with its chances of qualifying for the World Cup.
“FIFA will likely maintain neutrality in the decision and reserve the probable outcome for CAF since it has primary adjudication and football oversight in Africa as its defined jurisdiction.”
South Africa’s win against Lesotho means they take a firm grip on Group C.
They are top with 16 points after seven games. Benin Republic’s 1-0 win over Zimbabwe puts them in second place with 11 points. Rwanda has eight.
The Super Eagles go into Saturday’s game against Rwanda with seven points.
This could easily be a big psychological blow for Eric Chelle’s men.
“It would trigger emotions among the playing staff and the backroom staff,” Davies says.
“It would elicit all sorts of calculations to see how best to put our feet ahead of the tie in our visit to the Rainbow Nation.
“That said, the team has to remain focused on the home game and see out the Rwanda encounter with a win while eliminating the chances of conceding and ensuring a comfortable goal margin before the final game of the qualifying series away to South Africa.”
So what chances of the three-time African champions being at next year’s World Cup?
Davies replies: “It’s not been the best of performances from the Super Eagles in the qualifying series.
“And it leaves me in much doubt that there’s a possibility of a comeback to qualify for the World Cup.
“As much as it’d be a good must-have to see the Super Eagles at the World Cup, I am sceptical about the outcome of the team’s chances.
“Even though one might consider the marketability of the participation of the Super Eagles in the World Cup for the commercial value, the odds are stacked against us and I do not see a comeback in this regard,” he further stated.
