Former Super Eagles striker, Julius Aghahowa, has expressed frustration over FIFA’s delay in delivering a verdict on South Africa’s alleged use of an ineligible player in their World Cup qualifier against Lesotho.
The case, which could lead to a points deduction for Bafana Bafana if confirmed, has dragged on for weeks without a decision from world football’s governing body. Aghahowa believes the delay may render the sanction ineffective.
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“I wish FIFA had made the decision sooner,” Aghahowa said. “This matter has taken too long, and by the time they conclude, it might not make any real difference for South Africa’s World Cup hopes.”
The former striker, who represented Nigeria at both the 2002 FIFA World Cup and multiple Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, stressed that timing is crucial in football administration. “When a team is guilty of an offense like this, the ruling should be quick and clear. Football is about fairness, but fairness delayed is almost the same as fairness denied,” he explained.
Aghahowa pointed out that a late verdict could undermine the credibility of the qualifiers. “If points are deducted after the competition has moved on, then the punishment loses its meaning. The integrity of the tournament is what suffers in the end,” he warned.
He urged FIFA to adopt faster investigative mechanisms in cases involving eligibility, saying that the interests of players, teams, and fans must come first. “Footballers work too hard, and countries invest too much for these kinds of delays to be allowed. A prompt decision helps everyone know where they stand,” Aghahowa said.
Despite his criticism, Aghahowa maintained that rules must be respected. “If South Africa broke the rules, they should be punished. But the punishment must come on time for it to be useful,” he concluded.
