The Lesotho versus Nigeria 2026 World Cup qualifier, which was initially slated for the Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein, will now be played at the Polokwani Stadium, South Africa, if FIFA grants the Nigeria Football Federation’s (NFF) prayer.
The NFF raised questions about the suitability of the Free State Stadium to host an international game after the Bafana Bafana game against the Super Eagles on the “atrocious” pitch.
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Nigeria will travel to South Africa for its last away game of the qualifying series, billed to hold on October 9, before returning to Uyo to host the Benin Republic three days later.
Nigeria must beat Lesotho and the Benin Republic in their last two games of the series to have any chance of a possible return to the World Cup next year.
The Super Eagles, who failed to qualify for the last edition of the World Cup in Qatar, are third in Group C on 11 points. South Africa led the group with 17 points, while the second-placed Benin Republic had 14 points earlier before FIFA deducted three points and three goals from South Africa for fielding ineligible Teboho Mokoena in a game against Lesotho.
Even at that, the Bafana Bafana must also lose points to the Benin Republic and Rwanda in their last two games.
The Eagles can also qualify for the World Cup through the African and inter-confederation playoffs if they gazump Benin Republic and end the series in second place.
That way, they will be among the four second-placed teams in the African qualifying series, who will participate in a play-off to be organised by CAF at the end of the group phase of the series.
The winner of that playoff will then join teams from other confederations in another competition to determine the last countries to make the list for the 2026 World Cup to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico next year.
NFF has disclosed that the Super Eagles will assemble in South Africa for the game billed for October 9 from Sunday, October 5.
