Eagles begin camping October 6 in South Africa
The Lesotho versus Nigeria 2026 World Cup qualifier, which was initially slated for the Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein, will now be played at the Polokwani Stadium, South Africa, if FIFA grants the Nigeria Football Federation’s (NFF) prayer.
The NFF raised questions about the suitability of the Free State Stadium to host an international game after the Bafana Bafana game against the Super Eagles on the “atrocious” pitch.
The NFF, in a communiqué after its executive committee meeting in Ibadan, at the weekend, disclosed that the world football governing body, FIFA, has acceded to the request that the game be moved to a better venue.
South Africa’s coach, Hugo Broos, had earlier complained about the state of the stadium after his team’s game against Zimbabwe on the pitch.
NFF’s Media Director, Ademola Olajire, told The Guardian that FIFA has granted the plea for the game against Lesotho to be moved to a better facility.
“We expect a letter from FIFA on the change of venue soon, but FIFA has already seen the need to change the venue,” he said.
He also disclosed that the Super Eagles will assemble in South Africa for the game billed for October 9 from Sunday, October 5.
The NFF also disclosed in its communiqué that it has started putting in place measures to ensure a smooth movement of the players from their various bases to their proposed camp in South Africa.
Nigeria will travel to South Africa for its last away game of the qualifying series, billed to hold on October 9, before returning to Uyo to host the Benin Republic three days later.
Nigeria must beat Lesotho and the Benin Republic in their last two games of the series to have any chance of returning to the World Cup next year.
The Super Eagles, who failed to qualify for the last edition of the World Cup in Qatar, are third in Group C on 11 points. South Africa lead the group with 17 points, while second-placed Benin Republic have 14 points.
The Super Eagles’ only hope of qualifying for the World Cup automatically rests on their winning the two games, while hoping that South Africa will forfeit three points and three goals as punishment for using an ineligible Teboho Mokoena in one of their games against Lesotho.
Even at that, the Bafana Bafana must also lose points to the Benin Republic and Rwanda in their last two games.
The Eagles can also qualify for the World Cup through the African and inter-confederation playoff if they gazump Benin Republic and end the series in second place.
That way, they will be among the four second-placed teams in the African qualifying series, who will participate in a play-off to be organised by CAF at the end of the group phase of the series.
The winner of that playoff will then join teams from other confederations in another competition to determine the last countries to make the list for the 2026 World Cup to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico next year.
