Guardian Nigeria
FIFA changes officials for Eagles Vs Cheetars
Super Eagles Coach, George Finidi, has acknowledged that Nigeria must beat South Africa and Benin Republic next month, if it wants to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
Nigeria is currently third in Group C of the 2026 World Cup Africa qualifying series with two points from two games, with Rwanda (four points) and South Africa (three points) in first and second positions respectively. Other members of the group are Zimbabwe and Lesotho.
Nigeria opened the series with a 1-1 draw with Lesotho in Abuja and travelled to Kigali, Rwanda to hold Zimbabwe to another 1-1 draw. The Super Eagles will host South Africa in Uyo on June 7 and travel to Cote d’Ivoire for a date with the Cheetars of Benin Republic on June 10.
Speaking on an Arise TV programme yesterday, George said: “Yeah, the games are really important because we know where we stand at the moment. It’s not a good position, to be honest… we should be honest with ourselves. Where we are at the moment gives us more pressure, because these games are must-win games.” He assured Nigerians that his team would give their all to return the country to the World Cup after they missed the 2022 edition in Qatar.
“I’m not saying we will win the game but I’m saying they are must-win games because we don’t know what’s going to happen, but it all boils down to us as a team because we know what is at hand and then we know we have to get as much as we can in these two games just to go up there.”
Meanwhile, world-governing body, FIFA, has made changes to the officiating team of the 2026 World Cup qualifying match between Benin Republic and Nigeria, which is scheduled for the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny, Cote d’Ivoire on June 10, 2024.
The changes have sent packing Ethiopian official Bamlak Tessema Weyesa, who was originally designated as referee for the encounter scheduled to kick off at 4.00 pm. In his place, Gabonese official Pierre Ghislain Atcho will now be the referee. Weyesa’s compatriots Temesgin Samuel Atango and Tigle Gizaw Belachew have been retained as assistant referee 1 and assistant referee 2 respectively.
However, another Ethiopian, Tewodros Mitiku, earlier designated as fourth official, has been thrown out, to be replaced by Cameroon’s Antoine Max Effa Essouma.
The originally-designated referee assessor, match commissioner and security officer retain their places in the Day 4 encounter that comes up only three days after the Super Eagles, Bafana Bafana clash at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo in a Day 3 battle.
