Nigeria’s chances of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup received a major lift on Monday after FIFA confirmed the deduction of three points from South Africa in the ongoing qualifiers.
The sanction follows Bafana Bafana’s decision to field Teboho Mokoena, who was ineligible to play against Lesotho in March.
As part of the punishment, South Africa also forfeited three goals from their tally, tightening the race for qualification.
The development comes as a significant boost for the Super Eagles, who are still battling to secure a spot at the 2026 World Cup.