The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has officially protested to FIFA over what it terms a “serious conflict of interest” in the appointment of South African and Beninese officials for Nigeria’s crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup playoff clash against Gabon.
The decisive fixture, scheduled for next Thursday at the Prince Héritier Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat, Morocco, will determine which side advances to the next stage of the qualifiers.
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According to the appointment list signed by Gordon Savic, FIFA’s Head of Qualifiers and International Matches, South Africa’s Abongile Tom has been named as centre referee, with compatriot Zakhele Siwela serving as Assistant Referee 2.
Another South African, Akhona Makalima, is listed as the head of the two-person VAR team, while Hugues Alain Djovi from Benin Republic will serve as the Referee Assessor.
NFF Demands Change Over “Conflict of Interest”
The NFF, in a strongly worded letter to FIFA on Wednesday night, insisted that the selection of match officials from South Africa and Benin Republic — both of whom featured in Nigeria’s qualifying group — breaches the principle of neutrality in international officiating.
Nigeria narrowly edged Benin Republic to advance in the last group stage, a result that still stings in Cotonou.
The federation fears that such appointments could “compromise the integrity of the fixture or create perceptions of bias.”
South African Minister’s Comment Deepens Concern
The controversy intensified after South Africa’s Sports Minister, Gayton McKenzie, recently stated on Johannesburg’s Radio 947 that he would “do everything possible” to prevent Nigeria from qualifying for the World Cup.
He accused Nigeria of “sabotaging South Africa’s qualification campaign” — a reference to Nigeria’s protest against South Africa’s use of an ineligible player in the earlier group stage, a protest FIFA upheld.
The NFF described McKenzie’s remarks as “unprofessional, inflammatory, and unbecoming of a government official,” adding that appointing referees from a country whose top sports official had publicly expressed hostility toward Nigeria was “at best insensitive, at worst prejudicial.”
Awaiting FIFA’s Response
As of Thursday morning, FIFA had yet to issue a formal response to Nigeria’s complaint.
However, the federation is pushing for “immediate replacement of all appointed officials from South Africa and Benin Republic” before the playoff.
The Nigeria–Gabon encounter is widely viewed as one of the standout fixtures of the African qualifiers, with both teams vying for a place at the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Should FIFA uphold the protest, a new set of referees from neutral nations is expected to be announced in the coming days.
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