The Lesotho versus Nigeria 2026 World Cup qualifier, which was initially slated for the Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein, will now be performed on the Polokwani Stadium, South Africa, if FIFA grants the Nigeria Soccer Federation’s (NFF) prayer.
The NFF raised questions in regards to the suitability of the Free State Stadium to host a global sport after the Bafana Bafana sport towards the Tremendous Eagles on the “atrocious” pitch.
Nigeria will journey to South Africa for its final away sport of the qualifying collection, billed to carry on October 9, earlier than returning to Uyo to host the Benin Republic three days later.
Nigeria should beat Lesotho and the Benin Republic of their final two video games of the collection to have any probability of a attainable return to the World Cup subsequent yr.
The Tremendous Eagles, who didn’t qualify for the final version of the World Cup in Qatar, are third in Group C on 11 factors. South Africa led the group with 17 factors, whereas the second-placed Benin Republic had 14 factors earlier earlier than FIFA deducted three factors and three objectives from South Africa for fielding ineligible Teboho Mokoena in a sport towards Lesotho.
Even at that, the Bafana Bafana should additionally lose factors to the Benin Republic and Rwanda of their final two video games.
The Eagles can even qualify for the World Cup by way of the African and inter-confederation playoffs in the event that they gazump Benin Republic and finish the collection in second place.
That method, they are going to be among the many 4 second-placed groups within the African qualifying collection, who will take part in a play-off to be organised by CAF on the finish of the group part of the collection.
The winner of that playoff will then be part of groups from different confederations in one other competitors to find out the final international locations to make the record for the 2026 World Cup to be co-hosted by america, Canada and Mexico subsequent yr.
NFF has disclosed that the Tremendous Eagles will assemble in South Africa for the sport billed for October 9 from Sunday, October 5.
