Nigeria's World Cup qualifying hopes boosted as South Africa slapped with points deduction | OneFootball

Bafana Bafana have been penalised for fielding an ineligible player in a qualifying win over Lesotho

Nigeria’s dreams of reaching the 2026 World Cup have been boosted after South Africa were docked three points for fielding an ineligible player in a qualifying match.

The star midfielder, who plies his trade at club level for Mamelodi Sundowns, completed 82 minutes of the match.

After being pressured to open an investigation, FIFA have annulled South Africa’s win in the match.

After drawing with South Africa in September, Nigeria’s hopes of playing at the World Cup were all but dashed.

The result left them six points adrift of Bafana Bafana, who sat atop the group in its only automatic qualifying berth.

That deficit has now been halved, with two matches left to play. Nigeria will face Lesotho away before hosting new group leaders Benin in the last matches of their World Cup qualifying campaign.

The South African Football Association has been ordered to pay a CHF 10,000 (£9,334.95) fine on top of the sporting penalty. They have the option to appeal the decision, and must do so within ten days.

As disciplinary proceedings were announced this week, the Nigerian Football Federation’s Director of Communications Ademola Olajire said: "It is nothing less than is expected.

“They have started a process that should have started maybe a little earlier and we now await the outcome.

"But for us, our focus remains on making sure that the Super Eagles can win their remaining two games and see what happens after that."

South Africa head coach Hugo Broos said of the situation: "We did something bad, we did something we shouldn't do, but there was no complaint.”