Former Nigeria international Mutiu Adepoju has admitted the Super Eagles still face a tough task to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, despite FIFA’s recent sanctions on South Africa.
On Monday, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee punished Bafana Bafana for fielding Teboho Mokoena, who was ineligible to play at the time, in a qualifying match against Lesotho in March, 2025.
Mokoena, 28, had accumulated two yellow cards prior to that clash, but still featured for his country despite being suspended for the match.
South Africa won the encounter 2-0, but have now been docked three points as FIFA declared the match to be forfeited with 3-0 awarded to Lesotho instead.
The South African football association were also ordered to pay a fine of CHF 10,000, while the guilty player was issued a stern warning.
“For me it is not that much of an advantage, though the points are not that much again but the Super Eagles still need to win their remaining two matches and hope other results favour them”, Adepoju said in an interview.
South Africa were previously in pole position to clinch Group C’s automatic spot, but the sanction imposed on them by FIFA now leaves the group very open with Benin Republic now in first place on goal difference.
Nigeria, meanwhile, are now just three points behind both teams in third place, and have a good chance of qualifying for next year’s competition as group winners.
“They don’t need much advice than be fired up to go and win the next two matches and see what happens”, he continued.
Nigeria face Lesotho and Benin Republic in their final two qualifiers and must secure victories in both matches, while they hope for favorable results across other group matches to clinch a ticket at the showpiece event.
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