World football body FIFA is facing a backlash in Nigeria over its appointment of South African officials for the Super Eagles World Cup playoff semi-final against Gabon on November 13 in Morocco, South AfricanTom Agbongile, Zakhele Siwela and Akhona Makalima will take charge of the match, with Hughes Ndjovi from Benin Republic as assessor .
Nigerians who are criticizing the decision argue that South Africa and Benin were in the same qualifying group, and that South Africa’s Sport Minister said recently that he doesn’t want Nigeria to qualify.
A senior Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, official speaking on condition of anonymity, condemned the appointment, calling it “provocative and insensitive” given the strained football rivalry between both nations.
“How can FIFA appoint a South African refereeing team for our match after what Gayton McKenzie said about wishing Nigeria would not qualify for world Cup? South Africa are clearly hostile to us”, the NFF official protested.
The development has since fueled intense debate across Africa, with fans and analysts urging FIFA to reconsider the selection to preserve fairness and credibility in such a high-stakes fixtures.
Nigeria’s clash with Gabon is seen as pivotal to the super Eagles qualification hopes for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
As anticipation builds, the pressure is now on FIFA to address the growing discontent and ensure that next week’s showdown is decided solely on the pitch – and not overshadowed by controversy off it, as expectations are high on both teams.
-9News Nigeria.
