Tag: World Cup 26

Aluo, Rohr excited   

Gernot Rohr, coach of the Cheetahs of Benin, and George Aluo, a prominent member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), have expressed their appreciation for FIFA’s recent ruling to deduct three points from South Africa. This decision has effectively intensified the competition for automatic qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as the race in Group C heats up.

FIFA cited a violation of regulations concerning player eligibility as the reason for the sanction, which stemmed from South Africa’s usage of Teboho Mokoena in a preliminary match against Lesotho on March 21, 2025. The original result, a 2-0 win for South Africa, was overturned and awarded as a 3-0 victory for Lesotho, resulting in South Africa not only losing three crucial points but also facing a fine of CHF 10,000, with Mokoena receiving a warning from FIFA.

“Finally, FIFA has taken the decision we have been waiting for a long time. It’s a logical outcome that comes just before our last games, ” Rohr told NationSports  moments after FIFA’s decision was made public.

With the points deduction, the former Super Eagles trainer noted  that his team is now in a stronger position within the group but acknowledged the tough matches that lie ahead—one against Rwanda in Kigali and another against Nigeria in Uyo.

“If  I have a good calculator, we are mow  the leader in Group  C but with two difficult games to finish  the qualifying competition . We have to go to Rwanda (Kigali) and Nigeria(Uyo).,” the vastly travelled Rohr sais. 

Aluo  who doubles as the Chairman of the Nigeria national League (NNL), echoed Rohr’s sentiments, noting that the sanction opens up the competition for all teams in Group C. He views the three points taken from South Africa as a boost for Nigeria to push towards qualification.

“The decision has made the group wide open,” Aluo remarked, highlighting Rwanda’s potential as a dark horse in this race.

He went on to emphasize the importance of the upcoming match between Rwanda and Benin, suggesting that the outcomes of those games could dramatically alter the standings.

“If Rwanda wins that match and we triumph over Lesotho, the dynamics of the competition will change completely. All four countries—Nigeria, South Africa, Benin, and Rwanda—are very much in the hunt for qualification, and I expect Rwanda to be competitive against South Africa if they manage to defeat Benin at home.”

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Yet Rohr maintained that  it would be foolhardy for anyone to doubt  his history-seeking Cheetahs, adding  they are  at the ready for the upcoming deciding matches in October.

 “I know we still have a chance even  against Rwanda and Nigeria,” maintained the  former Bayern Munich defender. “ I think the first three teams can  finish  as the first team in the group especially if South Africa did not win any of their  next games  with high score.”

He added:  “The next game (away to Rwanda)  will be very important  for us. Even now, Nigeria  has a chance  because  Zimbabwe  can even shock South Africa .  It is very interesting , very interesting. “

Indeed, as  the qualifying campaign approaches its climax, the focus remains on the outcomes of each match, with tension and excitement building among fans and teams alike in anticipation of who will eventually  secure the Group C automatic ticket  to the 2026 World Cup.

  GROUP C: REMAINING MATCHES:

OCTOBER 12

Lesotho vs. Nigeria

Rwanda vs.  Benin

Zimbabwe vs. South Africa

OCTOBER 14

Nigeria vs. Benin

South Africa vs. Rwanda

Coach Eric Chelle has said even though the Super Eagles have been written off to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, his team plan to win their remaining four qualifiers.

Next month, the Super Eagles welcome Rwanda to Uyo, before a cracker against group leaders South Africa.

In October, they will be guests of Lesotho before a home game against Benin.

Eric Chelle his team are determined to prove critics wrong by winning their remaining qualifiers to stand a chance of making it to next year’s Mundial.

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 “Many people have written us off already,” he said. “But I am determined.

“We have four games left to play and I, and my players, will do all we can to win those games.”

South Africa lead the qualifying group with 13 points, with Rwanda second on eight points, same as third-placed Benin.

Nigeria are fourth on seven points with only the overall winners of the group qualifying automatically to the World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico.

By Yusuf Kareem

Former  Nigeria International Brown Ideye believes the Super Eagles  would face  herculean task in their remaining four matches in the qualification tournament  for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The Super Eagles are languishing in  their Group C section with  seven points  where  South Africa  currently tops with 13 points  while both Rwanda and  Benin  followed suit  with eight points  each.

Speaking on the Super Eagles chances, Ideye  said the Super Eagles  had been undone in many of their previous matches, adding they must  be mentally strong to break the rut  so secure a ticket to World Cup 26 to be jointly hosted by  USA, Canada and Mexico.

“A lot of things went wrong (in the previous matches) ,” Ideye  said in an interview aired on Brila Fm. “When you’re reshuffling players and coaches, it’s the team that suffers the consequences.

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“When the group draw was announced, everyone believed we were in the easiest group. But I feel many underrated some of these teams, assuming they would be easy walkovers.”

According to Ideye,  the Eric Sekou Chelle-led side would  have their hands full in their next upcoming four matches in September and October  to have any realistic chance of making  it to next year’s Mundial.

He continued: “Any team playing Nigeria is coming with their A-game. They are not just going to watch us pass them by. For them, it’s everything — they’ll do whatever it takes to qualify for the World Cup.”

“I believe now the players understand that it’s not as easy as they thought. The upcoming game is a do-or-die situation and extremely important for the country. Everyone must be fully focused and committed,”  added Ideye who won the Africa Cup of Nations  in 2013.

Despite  the precarious situation of the  Super Eagles  in their  quest  for a ticket to the  2026 FIFA World Cup, the Director Liwa FC, Abudabi Mohammed ,has urged the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF)  to get their acts together ahead of the 2025 AFCON qualifier starting this weekend in Uyo against Republic of Benin. 

Speaking in Abuja at the weekend , Mustapha described the Super Eagles’  situation in their FIFA  World Cup 2026 Group C   where they  lie  in fifth position after taking just three points in their opening four matches,  as ugly and pathetic,  adding  there should be a concerted efforts to ensure  Nigeria qualify for both the upcoming AFCON and Mundial.

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“They (NFF)  should sort things out, because this is Nigeria and we are not talking anything less than qualifying for both the Nations Cup and the World Cup,” Mustapha,  a FIFA-license Intermediary, said. 

Meanwhile, Mustapha  has canvassed  for meaningful engagement of youths  in order to shun crime and vices hence his recourse to empower at least 2000 youths  with the  Federal Capital  Territory  and its environs by providing them with skills that can help them to be  gainfully employed.

He said: “In this country, we don’t have to leave everything to government alone, we the youth we need to stand up.

“So, I got motivated and I said as a sports person, if I can start up something like this, I’m also contributing my own quota to the development of youth in the country.”