African Football Discussion Thread Current Topic: 👉 AFCON 2025/2026

[Fiatless]

Finally, I wonder why it took FIFA this long before doing the needful on this very issue of points deduction from South Africa for fielding an ineligible player against Lesotho few months ago. Lesotho will get 3 points and 3 goals from this rule. Benin Republic now leads the standings, let's see what happens in the remaining matches to be played.

FIFA is a big organisation, so decisions usually go through a bureaucratic process. This is why decisions sometimes take a long time to make. This is good news to Nigerians and I hope the Super Eagles take advantage of it. Although our destiny is not yet in our hands but this point reduction have given the Nigerian side hope that they can be in the World Cup. 

[IjawMan]

Finally, I wonder why it took FIFA this long before doing the needful on this very issue of points deduction from South Africa for fielding an ineligible player against Lesotho few months ago. Lesotho will get 3 points and 3 goals from this rule. Benin Republic now leads the standings, let's see what happens in the remaining matches to be played.

The time it took FIFA to make decision on the illegibility case of SA fielding a player in the match with Lesotho do not matter as this points deduction so not favour Nigeria in any form and will not change the grimy position of Nigeria in the group.

Lesotho has been given free 3 points, Benin Republic by goals difference are moved top of the group with 14 points as SA. The two matches left to play what the two countries need to qualify is a one win and a draw.

Now, what is the fate of Nigeria winning their two matches to gain 17 points under the circumstance that SA or Benin lost or draw  their two matches?

[Adbitco]

Finally, I wonder why it took FIFA this long before doing the needful on this very issue of points deduction from South Africa for fielding an ineligible player against Lesotho few months ago. Lesotho will get 3 points and 3 goals from this rule. Benin Republic now leads the standings, let's see what happens in the remaining matches to be played.

FIFA is a big organisation, so decisions usually go through a bureaucratic process. This is why decisions sometimes take a long time to make. This is good news to Nigerians and I hope the Super Eagles take advantage of it. Although our destiny is not yet in our hands but this point reduction have given the Nigerian side hope that they can be in the World Cup. 

But this was not the case for some other teams that's why people started questioning and asking why hasn't FIFA yet taken a decision on South Africa. I don't think FIFA wasted this amount of time on Equatorial Guinea before deducting their point.
I don't even think Nigeria is at an advantage side as it stands, South Africa and Benin Republic are leveled on points and Nigeria has a match against Benin Republic, if Nigeria wins that very match, they are still doing South Africa a favour.

[Africolo]

Lesotho has been given free 3 points, Benin Republic by goals difference are moved top of the group with 14 points as SA. The two matches left to play what the two countries need to qualify is a one win and a draw.

Now, what is the fate of Nigeria winning their two matches to gain 17 points under the circumstance that SA or Benin lost or draw  their two matches?

Doesn't matter much but at least the chances of the Super Eagles qualifying directly or playing playoff is now better than it was before the points deduction.

The most important thing is we still have Benin Republic to play in what could be a playoff decider in the last fixture. If we're able to take advantage of the Losotho game and score an many goals as possible to increase it our SD score that would give us some kind of advantage of we're able to win our last two remaining games.

[Donneski]

Finally, I wonder why it took FIFA this long before doing the needful on this very issue of points deduction from South Africa for fielding an ineligible player against Lesotho few months ago. Lesotho will get 3 points and 3 goals from this rule. Benin Republic now leads the standings, let's see what happens in the remaining matches to be played.

FIFA is a big organisation, so decisions usually go through a bureaucratic process. This is why decisions sometimes take a long time to make. This is good news to Nigerians and I hope the Super Eagles take advantage of it. Although our destiny is not yet in our hands but this point reduction have given the Nigerian side hope that they can be in the World Cup. 

It's been long this particular matter was reported to FIFA so I believe they came out with the suitable decision in this particular matter— which is why they had to take that long. Matters like this aren't easily decided on but necessary investigations must take place before a decision will be made. That being said, I still don't think the Super Eagles or any other team in that group will take advantage of that. I see the South African team coming all out to claim their place in the next edition by either winning their two remaining fixtures of the tie or winning one a getting a point in the other to finish at the top of the group. I'll be happy if the Nigerian Super Eagles will take the opportunity but in reality, I doubt

[Abu-Naim]

Finally, I wonder why it took FIFA this long before doing the needful on this very issue of points deduction from South Africa for fielding an ineligible player against Lesotho few months ago. Lesotho will get 3 points and 3 goals from this rule. Benin Republic now leads the standings, let's see what happens in the remaining matches to be played.

The problem was from CAF, they delayed the petition because the CAF president is a South African; but it all ended well as FIFA has made the right decision to deduct three points and three goals from South Africa points, they are now the second position with 14 points.
I am not happy because the Super Eagles of Nigeria didn’t use their opportunity of taking the lead or coming very closer in their last match against South Africa, now Benin Republic is now having a very high chance of finishing ahead of the Super Eagles and might get the slot even if they finished second.

I also heard that the South African team is reporting Nigerian goal against them that it was an hand ball; and if they want to take action since there is no VAR in the match, the game might be replayed in a new trial ground, and that can be an opportunity for both Nigeria and the South Africa to take the lead in the table.

[Cryptohunterkill]

I'm super excited to FIFA doing the needful, I would have said that FIFA did it late, Nigerian has a very small chance to qualify as 3. was deducted from South Africa, if Nigeria are not qualified for World Cup it's gonna be a very big slab to to a big player like Victor oshimen,and Alexis, Nigerian has the most valuable player in the Europe, but yet still the lack a good coach that can how to fix the team the way it supposed to be

[Joy_learns_crypto]

I'm super excited to FIFA doing the needful, I would have said that FIFA did it late, Nigerian has a very small chance to qualify as 3. was deducted from South Africa, if Nigeria are not qualified for World Cup it's gonna be a very big slab to to a big player like Victor oshimen,and Alexis, Nigerian has the most valuable player in the Europe, but yet still the lack a good coach that can how to fix the team the way it supposed to be

It is not time to be excited for Nigeria but a time for a change. Nigeria struggled against Rwanda so they need to work hard to win Benin and hope that South Africa drops points in any of their game.
The team that need to be celebrating the most about the FIFA decision to deduct points and goals from South Africa right now is Benin republic because Nigeria work to get to the World Cup is still a hard task.

[Jegileman]

FIFA is a big organisation, so decisions usually go through a bureaucratic process. This is why decisions sometimes take a long time to make. This is good news to Nigerians and I hope the Super Eagles take advantage of it. Although our destiny is not yet in our hands but this point reduction have given the Nigerian side hope that they can be in the World Cup. 

I was happy seeing this news but at the same time I have some reservations and not too happy because the probability of qualifying for Nigerians is not really in their hands. Even if they play their possible best and the other two teams sitting on top of them on the table still won their matches, we won’t still get to qualify. It is not bad trying out, I hope the super eagles can get through to the World Cup. Missing the last World Cup was not really enticing, I hope we get to represent Africa this time around. We had our chances back then but misused it, another one is here but with a less probability, let’s see how it goes for them this time around.

[Fiatless]

But this was not the case for some other teams that's why people started questioning and asking why hasn't FIFA yet taken a decision on South Africa. I don't think FIFA wasted this amount of time on Equatorial Guinea before deducting their point.
I don't even think Nigeria is at an advantage side as it stands, South Africa and Benin Republic are leveled on points and Nigeria has a match against Benin Republic, if Nigeria wins that very match, they are still doing South Africa a favour.

The most important thing now is that the points and goals have been deducted from the Bafana Bafana. Nigeria's destiny is still in the hands of South Africa and Benin. If these teams fail to lose any game, Nigeria would be out of the World Cup. Let's just hope that Nigeria will beat Benin with a large goal margin and let either Zimbabwe or Rwanda win South Africa. 

But my problem is that we don't have a team that you can depend on. The Super Eagles is just inconsistent.

[IceLincoln]

The Super Eagle's chances of qualifying this time is very tiny despite FIFA reduction of south Africa team's point in their group.
They were not serious in the first place and ,and I doubt it's now they want to become serious, and I pretty sure these two aren't gonna this opportunity slip their hands.

It’s just better the super eagles doesn’t qualify because they are not serious, just imagine the group which they are and they are still struggling, if they end up qualifying for the World Cup, how are they going to perform when they cant confidently win small countries in African. With the kind of players the super eagles are having, they should be at the top of the table, but they are not even in second position, and now they are happy just because 3 points has been deducted from South African, and they believe it’s an advantage for them. Seriously the super eagles will just have to improve their performance, and not really satisfied with the way they are playing currently.

I don’t know the logic behind this but the Super Eagles tend to perform better when faced with strong opponents and in big stages than they do with smaller teams and qualifiers. This is not the first time we’re struggling with qualifying for a competition, calculating opponents results and hoping.
Though it took FIFA this long to met out their punishment on South Africa for defaulting the rules. This now throws the group wide open, our chances might be slimmer when compared with the top two on the table but it’s gotten closer and it’s open season now, if our boys can get it together, we sure will qualify.

[Mr Reporter]

The Super Eagle's chances of qualifying this time is very tiny despite FIFA reduction of south Africa team's point in their group.
They were not serious in the first place and ,and I doubt it's now they want to become serious, and I pretty sure these two aren't gonna this opportunity slip their hands.

It’s just better the super eagles doesn’t qualify because they are not serious, just imagine the group which they are and they are still struggling, if they end up qualifying for the World Cup, how are they going to perform when they cant confidently win small countries in African. With the kind of players the super eagles are having, they should be at the top of the table, but they are not even in second position, and now they are happy just because 3 points has been deducted from South African, and they believe it’s an advantage for them. Seriously the super eagles will just have to improve their performance, and not really satisfied with the way they are playing currently.

I don’t know the logic behind this but the Super Eagles tend to perform better when faced with strong opponents and in big stages than they do with smaller teams and qualifiers. This is not the first time we’re struggling with qualifying for a competition, calculating opponents results and hoping.
Though it took FIFA this long to met out their punishment on South Africa for defaulting the rules. This now throws the group wide open, our chances might be slimmer when compared with the top two on the table but it’s gotten closer and it’s open season now, if our boys can get it together, we sure will qualify.

The Super Eagles' performance pattern is intriguing, with a tendency to rise to the occasion against strong opponents on big stages. However, qualifying matches seem to pose a different challenge.

The Super Eagles have shown they can compete with top teams, but consistency is key.

It's crucial for the Super Eagles to regroup and refocus on their qualifying campaign to seize this opportunity.

[Cyber_warrior]

The most important thing now is that the points and goals have been deducted from the Bafana Bafana. Nigeria's destiny is still in the hands of South Africa and Benin. If these teams fail to lose any game, Nigeria would be out of the World Cup. Let's just hope that Nigeria will beat Benin with a large goal margin and let either Zimbabwe or Rwanda win South Africa.  

Nigeria fans are already happy that 3 points have been deducted from the South African, but that doesn’t change anything for the eagles, even with the three points deduction, Benin and South African are still ahead of they super eagles, so before the super eagles will be able to climb to the first position, those two countries ahead of them will have to lose at least a match, and the eagles will have to win all the matches which they are having left, which might be kind of difficult, so even with the points deduction, their is no assurance that the super eagles will qualify for the World Cup.

The super eagles have been given opportunity to qualify for the World Cup, let’s wait and see if they will be able to win the matches which they are having left, they shouldn’t joke with those matches, they should try and win all.

[Adbitco]

Doesn't matter much but at least the chances of the Super Eagles qualifying directly or playing playoff is now better than it was before the points deduction.

The most important thing is we still have Benin Republic to play in what could be a playoff decider in the last fixture. If we're able to take advantage of the Losotho game and score an many goals as possible to increase it our SD score that would give us some kind of advantage of we're able to win our last two remaining games.

Qualifying directly? There's only one slot and Nigeria team is currently occupying the 3rd position with 3 points behind. They will play Lesotho next and Benin Republic after that, while South Africa who are currently second has the potential to win against Zimbabwe and Rwanda to get 6 points in their remaining two matches. The question is can Nigeria even win against Lesotho not to talk of Benin Republic.

[Rruchi man]

Qualifying directly? There's only one slot and Nigeria team is currently occupying the 3rd position with 3 points behind. They will play Lesotho next and Benin Republic after that, while South Africa who are currently second has the potential to win against Zimbabwe and Rwanda to get 6 points in their remaining two matches. The question is can Nigeria even win against Lesotho not to talk of Benin Republic.

You have just said exactly what I wanted to say. '

I advise no Nigerian to get their hopes high concerning the Super Eagles, we do not have good team coherence to say we will get complete six points, and even getting to the world cup if we manage to get through, we do not have the team that can get through the group stages of the world cup.

[Callido]

It is not time to be excited for Nigeria but a time for a change. Nigeria struggled against Rwanda so they need to work hard to win Benin and hope that South Africa drops points in any of their game.
The team that need to be celebrating the most about the FIFA decision to deduct points and goals from South Africa right now is Benin republic because Nigeria work to get to the World Cup is still a hard task.

Our hope to qualification is for South Africa losing either of their matches, what happens if they lose eventually and we are still unable to win the two games left for us. We've had funny match outcomes, unnecessary tie when we desperately need a win, losing two points in those games are what kept us at our lowest, this can be God giving one last chances, how we use it is left for the coach and players.

[Sexylizzy2813]

Finally, I wonder why it took FIFA this long before doing the needful on this very issue of points deduction from South Africa for fielding an ineligible player against Lesotho few months ago. Lesotho will get 3 points and 3 goals from this rule. Benin Republic now leads the standings, let's see what happens in the remaining matches to be played.

At first I heard that FIFA was silent about the deduction of point from the South Africa side, only to get a news today or should I say yesterday that the point has been deducted, now the question is, can the Super Eagles celebrate and also win the remaining games? Benin is not a small side with the former coach of the Super Eagles handling them and we can say he's doing well, I feel it will be very hard to get a point no matter the place we play either home or away...the Eagles should be prepared for one of the hardest game in this world cup qualifiers.

[GiftedMAN]

I'm super excited to FIFA doing the needful, I would have said that FIFA did it late, Nigerian has a very small chance to qualify as 3. was deducted from South Africa, if Nigeria are not qualified for World Cup it's gonna be a very big slab to to a big player like Victor oshimen,and Alexis, Nigerian has the most valuable player in the Europe, but yet still the lack a good coach that can how to fix the team the way it supposed to be

It is not time to be excited for Nigeria but a time for a change. Nigeria struggled against Rwanda so they need to work hard to win Benin and hope that South Africa drops points in any of their game.
The team that need to be celebrating the most about the FIFA decision to deduct points and goals from South Africa right now is Benin republic because Nigeria work to get to the World Cup is still a hard task.

I wonder why some people are happy over what happened South Africa it's not as if the Nigerian team has been given an automatic qualification to the world cup they still need to fight to win their remaining matches while they hope that the two countries that is ahead of them drop points it's our usual way of qualifying in any tournament.

Benin republic should be celebrating a little because it favours them but they will be more happy if they end up not dropping points in their remaining games they will be lucky to be in the world cup while Nigerian and South Africa will be back home watching them play in their television.

[Barikui1]

Finally, I wonder why it took FIFA this long before doing the needful on this very issue of points deduction from South Africa for fielding an ineligible player against Lesotho few months ago. Lesotho will get 3 points and 3 goals from this rule. Benin Republic now leads the standings, let's see what happens in the remaining matches to be played.

Although our destiny is not yet in our hands but this point reduction have given the Nigerian side hope that they can be in the World Cup. 

Yes it's true that out destiny is not in our hands when talking of leading the group but for a place in the playoff, our destiny is in our hands because we still got Benin republic side to play which are one of our immediate rivals for the first two positions, and it's a must win game, anything that makes our super eagles not to win both games should just say a good bye on our chances of qualiifying for the world cup next year because they are already in a very tight Conner now.
Though this decision took too long, but it was the right decision since they broke the rules, and they have to be punished in accordance with the rules , I just hope that our super eagles can leverage on this final opportunity to qualify for next year fifa world cup competition.

[Nightwatchmare]

Snip.

Snip

The Super Eagle's chances of qualifying this time is very tiny despite FIFA reduction of south Africa team's point in their group.
They were not serious in the first place and ,and I doubt it's now they want to become serious, and I pretty sure these two aren't gonna this opportunity slip their hands.

I laugh because the super eagles should not think that they would have a smooth walkthrough as a result of the deduction of SA points and they should not forget that the other remaining teams are also having the same thought they too have and are preparing themselves for the clash so they don't lose out. So if the super eagles want to qualify for the WC, they should prepare themselves well and approach the remaining two matches like never before and at all costs they should score a goal to always be ahead otherwise I don't think they can be able to meet up because this last remaining matches would be a very tough for them.

I agree with you, the point deduction isn't something we should be happy with, we needed to have done our homework by winning lots of our qualification games, that would have placed us in a better position, with what am even seeing, we might be forced to qualify as best losers, because even with the point deduction, we aren't still on the same level with Bafana Bafana, though I know we still have few games to still play, but how are we sure of winning those remaining games given these our style of play. The inconsistency with the super Eagles is too much 🤦.

You are on point; we shouldn't be happy that FIFA deducted 3 points from South Africa for fielding an ineligible player against Lesotho because we have good players that were supposed to win their World Cup qualification matches and accumulate enough points to qualify for the World Cup without depending on point deduction to have a chance of qualifying for the World Cup, but since the super eagles couldn't achieve that, making the super eagles fans to hope for a miracle to happen so that the super eagles can qualify for the World Cup, and since the miracle has happened, i believe that's why the super eagles fans are happy for the point deduction.