World Cup Blow for Nigeria as FIFA Makes No Move on South Africa Ineligible Player Drama
- Nigeria’s World Cup hopes are hanging by a thread, with no help coming from the world governing body FIFA
- FIFA has remained silent and has yet to take any disciplinary action against South Africa over ineligible player claims
- National Sports Commission chairman Shehu Dikko has conceded qualification is now out of Nigeria’s hands
The chairman of Nigeria’s National Sports Commission, Alhaji Shehu Dikko, has publicly admitted what many fans already feared, the Super Eagles are all but out of the 2026 World Cup.
With Nigeria sitting behind South Africa in the qualifying table, the Super Eagles' hopes of qualifying for the World Cup had rested not just on results, but also on a potential FIFA sanction.
Source: Getty Images
After eight matches, the Super Eagles have 11 points, six points behind Hugo Broos' men, who sit top of the group with 17 points, as seen on FIFA.com.
Nigeria had written to FIFA against Bafana Bafana for allegedly fielding an ineligible player earlier in the World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho, a game they won 2-0.
Neither failed to beat South Africa in the recent World Cup qualifier, drawing 1-1, ruining any means of making it to the 2026 World Cup, except if FIFA's hammer falls on South Africa by means of points deduction.
Meanwhile, FIFA has remained silent for weeks.
The latest disciplinary report has confirmed that South Africa has no pending cases, effectively ending any chance of a points deduction that could have shifted the group standings in Nigeria’s favour.
FIFA rules out action on South Africa
After weeks of speculation, FIFA’s disciplinary committee released its latest sanctions report, and South Africa is in the clear, at least for now.
Source: Getty Images
The controversy had centred around midfielder Teboho Mokoena, who was alleged to have been ineligible to play in a qualifier against Lesotho due to yellow card accumulation.
Under normal circumstances, fielding an ineligible player could result in forfeiting three points and three goals, and a monetary fine.
If the ruling had been implemented by FIFA, it would have drastically changed the standings in Group C and possibly brought Nigeria back into contention.
The regulations require the aggrieved federation, in this case, Lesotho, to lodge a formal complaint within 24 hours of the match.
Lesotho reportedly filed their protest well past that window, rendering it invalid under FIFA’s code.
Dikko gives up on World Cup race
Despite the disappointment, Dikko has stated that Nigeria need to focus on their remaining matches in the World Cup qualifiers and maintain that the race is out of the Super Eagles' hands, Guardian reports.
“We just have to win our games and see where that would take us,” he said. “But factually, it is not in our hands.”
The reality is clear, as Nigeria will likely miss the 2026 World Cup, as FIFA’s decision to leave South Africa untouched has dashed the hopes of making any possible comeback.
Nigeria get World Cup lifeline
In a related development, Legit.ng reported that the Super Eagles can manoeuvre their way to the FIFA World Cup with the withdrawal of Eritrea in Group E.
Nigeria are currently sitting in third place with 11 points, having played eight matches in the CAF Qualification series.
Source: Legit.ng
