According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has dismissed reports suggesting FIFA has cleared South Africa of any wrongdoing in the ongoing player ineligibility saga involving Teboho Mokoena.

Ademola Olajire, NFF Director of Communications, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday that it had not received any official communication from FIFA on the matter.

“There has been no official communication to that effect. What people are reporting is a tweet on their (FIFA) X account. We don’t regard that as official communication,” he said.

The post from FIFA official X handle last Tuesday hours before South Africa faced Nigeria

South Africa’s Bafana Bafana risk FIFA sanctions after their midfielder, Mokoena was fielded against Lesotho in a World Cup qualifier, after receiving two yellow cards, earlier in the campaign.

By FIFA rules, two yellow cards from separate matches resulted in a one-match suspension but Mokoena played in the next game, which South Africa won 2-0.

Lesotho promptly filed a protest, asking FIFA to award them a 3-0 win and dock South Africa three points.

Six months on, FIFA had yet to issue a formal decision, while the delay added uncertainty to the situation in the CAF World Cup qualifying Group C table.

NAN reports that if Lesotho’s protest stands, South Africa will lose the match and three points, while Lesotho gains a 3-0 win with three points.

However, if FIFA finds the protest invalid or filed incorrectly, South Africa may avoid punishment and retain the already accumulated 17 points.

As things stand, Nigeria must focus on winning upcoming matches, while awaiting FIFA’s verdict.

Nigeria’s 1-1 draw with South Africa on Tuesday meant the Super Eagles occupied the second spot on the log with 11 points from eight matches.

The Super Eagles next game is an away match to Lesotho at the Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein, South Africa, on Oct. 10, before wrapping up their campaign on Oct. 16 against Benin Republic in Uyo.

As it stands, South Africa remain in a strong position to top the group with 17 points from eight matches, while second placed Benin Republic are on 14 points.

Fourth-placed Rwanda are tied on 11 points with Nigeria, while Lesotho (6 points) and Zimbabwe (4 points) complete the six-team table.

Nigeria may now need to win all their remaining games or settle for a play-off route.

 – NAN

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

By DAVID OLALEKAN OLANREWAJU

Nigeria’s Super Eagles still have  a chance, no matter how slim, to make it to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. A door is opening, even though their fate is no longer in their hands. It awfully and painfully slipped away in Bloemfontein, last Tuesday.

Their possible route is now anchored on permutations, serious prayers and calculations. One possible option is for the team to win the remaining two matches – one away to the already eliminated Lesotho in South Africa and the other, a home match with Benin, a serious candidate.

The scenario runs thus:

If Nigeria win their remaining two matches with high goal margin and South Africa lose theirs, the consequence is that the Super Eagles will top the Group C table! The high scores proposed will enable them overturn the goal difference advantage South Africa have, in the event of equality in points if South Africa should lose their remaining matches to the already eliminated Zimbabwe and contending Rwanda.

The snag here is that both matches as well as the Lesotho versus Nigeria duel will be played on South African soil.

Alternatively, by winning the two matches with high scorelines and South Africa toping the table, the Super Eagles will get to their possible maximum of 17 points and could rank among the top four groups’ runners-up owing to the anticipated high goal difference.

That way, they go through the long route of continental and inter-continental play-off. This scenario is akin to “winning the lottery twice”—extremely unlikely.

Aiming to rank high among the possible groups’ runners-up look a more likely option. But this path is also hugely challenging.

Even with maximum points (17), Nigeria would still trail teams like Gabon, Madagascar, Congo, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, and Uganda.

Gabon, already have 19 points and thus assured of a play-off slot. So, only three slots are available for contest. The duo of Madagascar and DR Congo already have 16 points and thus closer to obtaining a play-off ticket than Nigeria.

Yet another four – Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Namibia and Uganda are already on 14 points. Namibia, still have an arithmetical chance of toping the Group H even with their current 14 points.

The same applies to Group E current second placed team, Tanzania who incidentally have 10 points.

In summary, Nigeria’s path is laced with landmines. The Super Eagles will need heavy goal margin wins in the two matches and hope South Africa lose their own two against Zimbabwe and Rwanda.

Should that happen, Nigeria, South Africa and Benin will finish equal on 17 points and goal-difference will be the tie-breaker. The 17-point projection for Benin is based on their possible defeat of Rwanda in Kigali.

But if that does not happen, two wins by the Super Eagles will assure the team of a second position placement and possible play-off slot.

• Dr. David Olalekan Olanrewaju is the Editor, Our Moment Newspaper.

Email: ourmomentnewspaper@gmail.com

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

Former Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr may be having the last laugh as his current team, Benin Republic, continue to shine in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, while Nigeria’s hopes are in tatters, if not ended.

Benin delivered a commanding 4-0 victory over Lesotho, a team that had frustrated Nigeria to a 1-1 draw in Uyo back in 2023.

 The result not only highlighted Benin’s growing momentum under Rohr but also underscored the Super Eagles’ ongoing struggles in the qualifying campaign.

The emphatic win sees Benin maintain second place in their group, just behind leaders South Africa, and three points clear of Nigeria heading into the crucial ninth round of fixtures.

Nigeria, on the other hand, face a difficult path forward, with mounting pressure on the team and coaching staff following a string of underwhelming performances.

 For Rohr, who was sacked by Nigeria in 2021, the contrast in fortunes adds a personal twist to the unfolding drama.

As the qualification race intensifies, Benin’s resurgence under Rohr could prove decisive — and further compound the woes of the nation that once let him go.

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H