Tag: 2026 FIFA World Cup

The road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup has become clearer for Nigeria’s Super Eagles following the Confederation of African Football (CAF)’s confirmation of Rabat, Morocco’s capital city, as the host for their decisive playoff clash against Gabon on November 13^th.

CAF’s announcement ends weeks of speculation over the venue, after initially naming Morocco as host nation earlier in October without specifying the exact city.

The latest update now allows the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the Super Eagles technical crew to intensify preparations with full knowledge of where the all-important encounter will take place.

According to respected journalist Osasu Obayiuwana, the Olympic Stadium in Rabat has been selected as the match venue. The stadium, which hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, is regarded as one of the finest football arenas in Africa.

For Nigeria, this fixture represents another crucial step in their quest to secure one of Africa’s remaining tickets to the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup to be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

Organisers approve Rugby for 27^th  NUGA Games in Jos

Rugby has been approved among the 22 sporting events for the 27^th  Nigeria University Games (NUGA), scheduled to take place at the University of Jos, Plateau State, between November 6 and 16/.

According to the organisers, the approved sports include rugby, tennis, table tennis, athletics, badminton, basketball, chess, cricket, handball, judo, taekwondo, scrabble, swimming, football, volleyball, hockey, boxing, e-sports, rowing and yachting, karate, beach volleyball, and squash.

Reacting to the inclusion of rugby, the President of the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (NRFF), Dr. Ademola Are, described it as a “welcome development” and a testament to the tireless efforts of stakeholders who have continued to advocate for the sport.

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 “This is encouraging and the reward for the consistent efforts of those who keep speaking for rugby in the right places. We must continue to project the sport until it gets the recognition it truly deserves,” he said.

In his acceptance speech after being sworn in as President of the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (NRFF), Dr. Ademola Are reiterated his commitment to working closely with NUGA to ensure that rugby continues to gain ground across Nigerian universities.

 “This achievement is part of the result of our continuous collaboration with NUGA to expand the reach of rugby in universities nationwide,” he said.

 Bafana Bafana‘s chances of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup took a major blow after being held to a goalless draw by bottom-placed Zimbabwe on Friday evening.

Despite playing with ten men for more than thirty minutes, the Warriors’ defence stood firm, frustrating South Africa’s attempts to find a breakthrough.

The result leaves Group C finely balanced heading into the final round of matches next Tuesday.

Benin currently lead the standings with 17 points following a narrow 1-0 win over Rwanda, while South Africa sit second on 15 points and Nigeria trail closely behind with 14.

With qualification no longer in their hands, Bafana Bafana face another must-win encounter against Rwanda on October 14.

They will also be hoping for a favour from Nigeria, who take on Benin in a decisive clash that could determine the group’s outcome.

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Speaking at the post-match press conference, South Africa coach Hugo Broos admitted that the draw with Zimbabwe had complicated South Africa’s path to the World Cup.

He acknowledged that Nigeria’s result against Benin could prove decisive and explained that his team must now not only win their final fixture but also pay attention to goal difference.

Broos identified Benin as the biggest threat in the group, noting that failure to secure a victory against Rwanda would end their qualification hopes.

He maintained that if Benin were to lose and South Africa won by at least two goals, there would still be a realistic chance of progressing.

The Belgian tactician stressed the importance of belief within the squad, admitting that it would be extremely disappointing if Nigeria managed to beat Benin while South Africa failed to win their own game, thereby missing out on a ticket to the World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

He added that even a win might not be enough if results elsewhere do not go their way, emphasising that South Africa must first take care of business against Rwanda before hoping for a favourable outcome from Nigeria’s clash with Benin.

Contrary  to earlier reports, Zimbabwe have confirmed that they will host their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying home match against Bafana Bafana in South Africa.

The venue for Zimbabwe’s upcoming World Cup qualifier against South Africa had been the subject of speculation in recent weeks.

Many were watching closely, as fellow Group  C World Cup hopefuls Benin and Nigeria reportedly wanted to know where the Zimbabwe versus Bafana match would take place.

Zimbabwe generally hosts their home games in South Africa due to not having a CAF- and FIFA-approved stadium for international fixtures.

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However, the Zimbabwe Football Federation (ZIFA) is understood to have explored alternative venues outside South Africa to avoid giving Bafana a de facto home advantage.

ZIFA reportedly attempted to move the match to Botswana, but their efforts were unsuccessful after discovering that the Botswana national team would play at the same venue, Obed Itani Chilume Stadium in Francistown, the day before.

As a result, ZIFA were left with two options: Orlando Stadium or Moses Mabhida Stadium.

ZIFA has now announced that the fixture will be played at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Friday, 10 October at 3pm.

ZIFA Confirms that the Warriors will face Bafana Bafana on Matchday 9 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers at Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban.

This could serve as a blow to Benin and Nigeria, who are hoping that Group C leaders Bafana will slip up in the qualifiers with just two matches left.

South Africa have taking the initiative in the 2026 FIFA World Cup  Qualifying after  the Bafana Bafana  defeated  the Cheetahs of Benin 2-0 yesterday  in their Matchday 6 tie   at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan, Abidjan  to go five points clear at the top of Group C.

Bafana Bafana claimed the win thanks to second half goals from Lyle Foster and Jayden Adams, with the result taking them to 13 points from six matches.

Elsewhere in the group, Nigeria drew 1-1 with Zimbabwe in Uyo and Rwanda were held 1-1 by Lesotho in Kigali.

Rwanda are second in the group on eight points, tied with third-placed Benin, while Nigeria (seven), Lesotho (six) and Zimbabwe (four) make up the remainder of the log.

However, the picture could change significantly, as news breaking earlier on Tuesday revealed that South Africa fielded an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, in last week’s 2-0 win over Lesotho, and are likely to be docked three points.

The first half was a frustrating affair for both teams.

South Africa enjoyed more of the ball and spent more time in Benin’s half, but were unable to create clear scoring chances.

Foster had a couple of glimpses at goal, while Thalente Mbatha saw a deflected drive flash wide of goal early in proceedings.

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The Cheetahs offered relatively little going the other way, though they did have the first notable effort on goal, with Junior Olaitan’s diving header forcing Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Ronwen Williams into a decent save in the 18^th  minute.

South Africa claimed the lead eight minutes into the second half, with Fawaaz Basadien running into space down the left flank before playing a low cutback to find the run of Foster.

The striker’s finish squeezed under goalkeeper Marcel Dandjinou and trickled over the goal line via the inside of the far post.

Hugo Broos freshened up the visitors’ line-up with the introductions of Oswin Appollis and Jayden Adams through the second half, while the Cheetahs did not manage any convincing attempts at an equaliser, with both Sessi D’Almeida and Steve Mounie dragging ambitious efforts wide of the mark.

Bafana’s substitutes combined for the second goal in the 84th minute, with Appollis delivering a precise cross from a free kick, allowing Adams to score with a downward header which beat Dandjinou’s right hand to end the game as a contest.

Benin Republic have shot to the top of Group C after they played a 2-2 draw against the Warriors of Zimbabwe in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier played yesterday in Durban, South Africa

The Cheetahs who moved to eight points from five games, displaced the Amavubi of Rwanda who have seven points to the second spot.

Benin Republic led by former Super Eagles head coach, Gernot Rohr, would be hitting their heads in disbelief how they allowed a two goal lead to slip through their hands in a game they dominated for a long spell,

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Steve Mounie and Dokou Dodo put Benin Republic in cruise control with two goals ahead in the 12^th   and 35^th   minute after a great start to the qualifiers in Durban- the make shift home ground of the Brave Warriors who have been forced to play outside Zimbabwe  due to  unfit playing grounds

Zimbabwe did wake up towards the end of the first half scoring through Marshall Munets in the 44^th   minute  while Knowledge Musona showed his brilliance scoring the equaliser in the 59^th   minute.

It was how the game ended as Benin Republic rose to the top of the group with eight points with Zimbabwe remaining in the sixth spot but now with three points. Both teams have played five games.

Zimbabwe will travel to Nigeria next for a game with the Super Eagles on Tuesday while Benin Republic will host South Africa in Abidjan, their adopted home ground also on Tuesday.