Key Highlights
- Nigeria was so close to a vital win, leading against Zimbabwe, only to have it snatched away by a last-minute goal
- South Africa celebrated a big win against Benin Republic, putting them in a strong position to qualify. But now, there’s this nagging question: Did they field a player who shouldn’t have been on the field?
Nigeria’s chances of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup suffered a major setback after conceding a last-minute equalizer in their crucial qualifier against Zimbabwe. A stunning 90-minute goal by Tawanda Chirewa, who outpaced Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong before slotting the ball past goalkeeper Stanley Nwanali, denied Nigeria a vital win.
The Super Eagles took the lead in the 74th minute when Victor Osimhen powered in a header from an Ola Aina cross. Despite dominating much of the first half, Nigeria failed to convert multiple chances, thanks to the heroics of Zimbabwean goalkeeper Washington Arubi. Osimhen and Ademola Lookman came close to scoring but were denied by Arubi’s sharp reflexes.
With this result, South Africa is now in pole position to secure qualification after a convincing 2-0 victory over Benin Republic. However, their path to the World Cup could be in jeopardy due to a brewing controversy. Reports indicate that South Africa fielded an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, in their recent match against Lesotho, which they won 2-0. According to FIFA rules, Mokoena had accumulated two yellow cards earlier in the qualifiers, which should have ruled him out of the game.
Per FIFA’s World Cup qualifying regulations, a player is automatically suspended for one match after receiving two yellow cards in separate games. If proven, South Africa could face a points deduction, which might open the door for Nigeria or Lesotho to challenge their qualification standing. However, FIFA requires any protest to be submitted within the stipulated timeframe, meaning Nigeria or Lesotho must act quickly to challenge South Africa’s eligibility.
As the race for a World Cup spot intensifies, all eyes will be on FIFA’s response to the eligibility dispute, which could have major implications for Group C’s final standings.
Read Also: CAF 2026 World Cup Qualifiers: Who Will Rise, Who Will Fall?
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