SCORENigeria can exclusively report today that the Super Eagles will be at the mercy of South African match officials for their 2026 World Cup Playoffs against Gabon in Rabat, Morocco.
The Super Eagles vs Gabon World Cup Playoff is slated for November 13 with kick-off put at 5pm.
The centre referee (Tom Abongile), head VAR official (Makalima Akhona Zennith) and second assistant referee (Siwela Zakhele Thusi Granville) for this all-important clash are all from South Africa, SCORENigeria has scooped.
This is coming at the heels of a bitter rivalry between Nigeria and South Africa that festered during Group C of the qualifying tournament for the Mundial.
Nigeria pushed for Bafana Bafana of South Africa be docked three points and three goals for fielding an ineligible player for a World Cup qualifier against Lesotho in March.
This was eventually done to the fury of South Africa, who only guaranteed their World Cup qualification on the final day of the qualifiers.
Even after they secured their spot at the 2026 World Cup, a bitter South African sports minister, Gayton Mckenzie, will go on to declare that Nigeria must not go to next year’s World Cup.
“I want them to lose. Nigeria must not go to the World Cup. Another country must go,” fired the embittered minister.
“It’s not personal. They don’t like us, we don’t like them.
“I give you the energy you give me.”
