Report – NFF Approach ZIFA, Lefa To Play WC Qualifiers Outside South Africa
Sportswire has been informed that the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) is rumoured to have approached the Lesotho FA and Zimbabwean Football Association (FA) about playing their home FIFA World Cup qualifying matches in October against Bafana Bafana outside of South Africa.
This publication has learned that the NFF is willing to pay for these games to be played elsewhere, as they believe it will give South Africa an unfair advantage. Bafana Bafana will likely play all four of its remaining qualifying matches in South Africa.
Nigeria is clinging to its slim hope of qualifying for the FIFA World Cup finals in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The Super Eagles are exploring every avenue to secure a spot in the tournament next year after a poor start to their qualifying campaign, which saw them collect just seven points from six matches with only one win.
Lesotho and Zimbabwe are two of the 12 African football associations that have been banned from hosting home matches because their venues do not meet CAF and FIFA standards. These two neighboring countries of South Africa have decided to play all their home Group F games in South Africa since they don’t have venues meeting FIFA and CAF standards.
Lesotho, currently fifth in Group F with six points after six matches, will host Nigeria on 6 October. This match is likely to be played in South Africa, though the venue has yet to be confirmed.
Lesotho will conclude its World Cup qualifiers on 13 October against Zimbabwe, also at an unconfirmed venue in South Africa. The NFF is reportedly pushing for these games to be played outside of South Africa as well.
Zimbabwe will face Bafana Bafana on 6 October, likely in South Africa, but the NFF has approached the Zimbabwean Football Association (ZIFA) to have this game moved outside of South Africa.
“Nigeria is pushing Lesotho and Zimbabwe to play their home games away from South Africa next month,” a source told Sportswire.
“The Nigerian FA was even willing to pay for these games to be played outside of South Africa. Lesotho replied by saying that ‘these are our brothers, and we are not going to do that.’ Nigeria is sending daily emails and making calls, trying to force the games to be played away.”
However, NFF spokesperson Ademola Olajire was contacted for comment. “I am not aware of any such thing but will try to find out,” Olajire said.
Lesotho FA spokesperson Mikia Ntanda also responded to a call from the website, stating, “Look, there is no such thing as the NFF asking us to play our home game next month outside South Africa. Our focus is currently on the Bafana game [at Toyota Stadium] on Friday, and we aren’t even talking about the Nigeria game. These are things coming from social media that we are not aware of. LeFA does what is best for its teams and the people in the football fraternity in the Kingdom.”
Recently appointed ZIFA president Nqobile Magwizi said he had no idea about such a request from the NFF to play their game outside of South Africa. “I have not received any communication from the NFF. Would you have a copy of the same?” Magwizi told Sportswire.
A win for Bafana Bafana in their next two FIFA World Cup qualifying matches—against Lesotho on Friday and against Nigeria at Toyota Stadium on Tuesday—will see them move closer to securing their spot in the FIFA World Cup finals.
