The chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, is hopeful that South Africa is docked three points by FIFA, to give the Super Eagles the chance to qualify for the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
With seven points from six games, the Super Eagles are now in fourth place in their qualifying Group C, six points behind the South Africans, who are in first place with 13 points.
Dikko is optimistic that the Eagles may still advance despite Nigeria’s shaky group standing since South Africa, who fielded an ineligible player during their 2-0 victory against Lesotho in March, could drop three points in the race for the group’s automatic slot.
FIFA World Cup qualifying rules state that a player who receives two yellow cards is not allowed to play in any more games.
The Nigeria Football Federation has reportedly appealed the breach as a result.
“With the look of things, it’s still in our hands, based on the disciplinary issue that is going to be decided very soon,” Dikko said in an interview with UK-based Nigerian journalist Austin Okon-Akpan.
“If the disciplinary issue goes the way everybody thinks it should go, because we too as Nigeria, have suffered the same fate before. So, if that happens, it means the next four games are still in our hands. If we win our next four games, we can qualify.
“The rules are rules; it’s not about Africa, it’s FIFA. There are no two ways about it. Otherwise, we could have fielded any player and claimed it’s an error.”
After a hectic window in June, the Super Eagles will start their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign in September under new coach Eric Chelle, who took over in March.
They defeated Ghana and Jamaica to win the Unity Cup in London earlier this month. In another friendly match, the team drew 1-1 with Russia.
Chelle’s team has four games remaining in the series. They will play South Africa away and Rwanda at home in September, followed by Lesotho away and the Benin Republic at home in October.