Earlier this week, FIFA officially confirmed the points deduction for South Africa.
It is punishment for Bafana Bafana fielding Teboho Mokoena against Lesotho in a 2026 World Cup qualifier in March 2025.
Mokoena was ineligible to play in the fixture having picked up two yellows.
This decision from the world football governing body has opened up possibilities in Group C of the African qualifying zone.
South Africa, who were top with 17 points from eight games, have now dropped to second spot behind Benin Republic on goal difference.
Bafana will now take on Zimbabwe and Rwanda to finish off the qualification campaign, while Benin face Rwanda and third-place Nigeria in their final two qualifiers.
The Super Eagles will face Lesotho and Benin in the coming days.
So, does the South Africa points deduction change anything for Nigeria specifically?
“Yes, it does change a lot. It puts Nigeria three points behind Benin Republic and South Africa,” Wale Agbede, a renowned sports broadcaster, tells DAILY POST.
“What that means, is that depending on how results go in the last two games, there is a chance that Nigeria could qualify.
“If not as the number one team, but as potentially one of the best losers.”
What is likely to be the Super Eagles’ best outcome as the qualifying series ends in a fortnight?
Agbede had this to say: “It is pretty straightforward. Nigeria has to win both games against Lesotho and Benin. It has to be six out of six.
“Defeating Benin is important, because Nigeria is three points behind and a win will close the gap. They will be on the same points.
“Nigeria will now know they will be expecting favours in South Africa’s games. It is absolutely crucial that Nigeria gets all six points, to put us in the best possible position.”
The likeliest turn of event is that Nigeria doesn’t make it, with Benin Republic looking like favourites to get the sole ticket from Group C.
What would that mean? There have been calls for disbandment of both the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF and the team.
Earlier this week, FIFA officially confirmed the points deduction for South Africa.
It is punishment for Bafana Bafana fielding Teboho Mokoena against Lesotho in a 2026 World Cup qualifier in March 2025.
Mokoena was ineligible to play in the fixture having picked up two yellows.
This decision from the world football governing body has opened up possibilities in Group C of the African qualifying zone.
South Africa, who were top with 17 points from eight games, have now dropped to second spot behind Benin Republic on goal difference.
Bafana will now take on Zimbabwe and Rwanda to finish off the qualification campaign, while Benin face Rwanda and third-place Nigeria in their final two qualifiers.
The Super Eagles will face Lesotho and Benin in the coming days.
So, does the South Africa points deduction change anything for Nigeria specifically?
“Yes, it does change a lot. It puts Nigeria three points behind Benin Republic and South Africa.”
“What that means, is that depending on how results go in the last two games, there is a chance that Nigeria could qualify.
“If not as the number one team, but as potentially one of the best losers.”
What is likely to be the Super Eagles’ best outcome as the qualifying series ends in a fortnight?
Agbede had this to say: “It is pretty straightforward. Nigeria has to win both games against Lesotho and Benin. It has to be six out of six.
“Defeating Benin is important, because Nigeria is three points behind and a win will close the gap. They will be on the same points.
“Nigeria will now know they will be expecting favours in South Africa’s games. It is absolutely crucial that Nigeria gets all six points, to put us in the best possible position.”
The likeliest turn of event is that Nigeria doesn’t make it, with Benin Republic looking like favourites to get the sole ticket from Group C.
What would that mean? There have been calls for disbandment of both the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF and the team.
But, will heads roll?
Agbede adds: “The Super Eagles have failed to qualify for a couple of World Cups now.
“Most obviously was 2006 in Germany, because it was the first time in a while.
“But more recently, we failed to qualify for the last World Cup in Qatar in 2022. I’m not sure we made it to Brazil in 2014.
“Will heads roll? I don’t think so. Maybe the manager gets sacked. Maybe some players are axed from the team.
“But in terms of the real questions that need to be asked about the team, about preparation and management. I’m not sure we are going to see the questions Nigerians want answered.
“We are going to get the same old rhetoric about going back to the drawing board. But it is going to be extremely unfortunate that Nigeria will not qualify for one of the biggest World Cups in history.
“Don’t forget next year’s tournament is going to be happening in a country where Nigeria enjoyed a lot of success in the 1994 edition.
“So, if the World Cup has been expanded and Nigeria still doesn’t get to qualify, then it says a lot about the state of football in our country right now.”
