In a dramatic turn of events, FIFA has deducted three points from South Africa and awarded both the points and three goals to Lesotho, sending shockwaves across Africa’s World Cup qualifying campaign.
The sanction means South Africa drops to second place in the group, while Benin moves to the top spot with just two games left to play. Lesotho, who benefited from the ruling, also gain a crucial lifeline.
The development has also reignited hopes for Nigeria’s Super Eagles, who had been struggling in the qualification race. With the new standings, Nigeria is suddenly back in contention for a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, keeping fans optimistic ahead of the final two fixtures.
While FIFA has not yet released the full details of the disciplinary action, reports suggest the punishment may be linked to player eligibility issues or a violation of competition regulations.
The updated group table now looks set for a thrilling finish, with Benin, South Africa, and Nigeria all in the running for top spot and Lesotho playing potential spoiler.
Fans across Nigeria have flooded social media with excitement, hailing FIFA’s ruling as the break the Super Eagles needed to revive their qualification dreams.
With two matches left, the race is wide open and Africa is braced for a nail-biting finale.
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