Nigeria’s Super Eagles have received a significant lift in their quest for the 2026 World Cup after FIFA penalized South Africa by deducting three points, according to Soccernet.ng.
Prior to this ruling, South Africa’s Bafana Bafana led Group C with 17 points following their 1-1 draw against Eric Chelle’s squad in Bloemfontein earlier this month.
However, FIFA’s disciplinary committee ruled that South Africa violated regulations by fielding Teboho Mokoena, who was suspended, during their match against Lesotho on 21 March 2025 in the World Cup 2026 qualifiers. Consequently, South Africa forfeited three points.
This decision narrows the gap between Nigeria and South Africa to just three points, with only two matches remaining in the group stage.
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Despite this favorable development for Nigeria, former KV Kortrijk forward Oladimeji Lawal remains skeptical about the Super Eagles’ ability to leverage this advantage.
Oladimeji Lawal Voices Doubts Over Nigeria’s Qualification Prospects
Speaking to Brila, the three-time capped Nigerian international expressed that the point deduction was inevitable and expected.
“I’m not overly thrilled about points being awarded off the field. Taking three points from South Africa is one thing, but winning our remaining matches is an entirely different challenge.”
“From the outset, I was confident FIFA would enforce its rules strictly. South Africa’s error meant they would lose those three points and the associated goals.
“The real question is whether we can clinch wins in our final two fixtures. That’s what truly matters. I’m not celebrating South Africa’s penalty; I’m focused on how we prepare to secure victories in the upcoming matches,” the 54-year-old concluded.
What Are Nigeria’s Chances of Making It to the 2026 World Cup?
Eric Chelle’s squad still holds a pathway to direct qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but the margin for error is razor-thin, as finishing second in Group C will not suffice.
To top the group, the Super Eagles must:
- Secure victories in their remaining two qualifiers against Benin Republic and Lesotho.
- Achieve a combined goal difference of at least +5 across these matches without conceding any goals, to maintain an edge in case of a points tie.
- Rely on South Africa and Rwanda dropping points in their upcoming fixtures during the October international break.
While Nigeria’s hopes of featuring in the expanded 48-team World Cup remain alive, they will need to execute flawlessly and hope for favorable results elsewhere.
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