Photo Credit - Nigeria Super Eagles.
Nigeria coach Eric Chelle has predicted that the Super Eagles are still in the race to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup should South Africa be deducted points for fielding Teboho Mokoena against Lesotho despite being suspended for accumulative yellow cards.
The Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder featured for 82 minutes in the matchday five fixture at Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, while Bafana Bafana went on to win 2-0 to take up first place in a tight Group C that also includes Benin, Rwanda, Nigeria and Zimbabwe.
However, it later emerged that Mokoena had accumulated yellow cards in previous World Cup qualifiers including South Africa’s 2-1 victory over Benin in November 2023 and in June 2024 against Zimbabwe which should have constituted a one-match ban.
With official reports claiming that both Lesotho Football Association (LFA) and Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have written an official complaint to the world governing body FIFA asking for South Africa to be penalised, the Belgian coach went ahead to withdraw Mokoena from the squad that faced Benin in their matchday six fixture away on Tuesday.
During the contest at a sweltering Stade Félix Houphouët Boigny in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, second half goals from Lyle Foster in the 52nd minute and Jayden Adams in the 84th minute were enough to give Bafana a 2-0 victory away from home.
While, Bafana won their fixture, Nigeria threw away a 1-0 a lead courtesy of Victor Osimhen with only 10 minutes left to draw 2-2 against Zimbabwe at Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo and dented their slim chances of qualifying for the global competition to be co-hosted by Mexico, Canada and the USA.
Asked about Mokoena’s saga, the Malian tactician told reporters: “I don’t want to tell you about that. I said yesterday [Tuesday] we are focused on our game, so this is why I talked to my guys after the game.”
“I told them [players] to look forward to second place. They did a great job during the ten days. So they deserve this qualification [World Cup]. I am trusting them, and maybe if South Africa loses three points, the last game is against Rwanda, so we can pass this team, and after that, we have a game against South Africa. We will see what happens in the coming days if it is true.”
The draw left Nigeria fourth with seven points, six less than leaders South Africa, and should Bafana be deducted points, the gap will reduce to three points.
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