Contrary to assurances in CAF and even in the backdrop of angry reactions out of Nigeria, South African referee Tom Abongile will be in charge of today’s 2026 World Cup Playoffs between the Super Eagles and Gabon in Rabat, Morocco.
The official match programme showed Abongile will be the centre referee, while fellow South Africans Siwela Thusi Granville and Makalima Zennith will be second assistant referee and head VAR, respectively.
Both Nigerian officials and fans have kicked against the appointment of South African match officials on the back of a bitter qualifying campaign involving Nigeria and South Africa.
The South African sports minister even went as far as declaring that Nigeria should not qualify for next year’s World Cup after they tried to sabotage the qualification campaign of Bafana Bafana.
