World Cup Qualifiers: Bafana Bafana, Super Eagles in do-or-die battle
Nigeria sit six points behind South Africa, but if there is to be a sanction for Bafana Bafana in the Tebeho Mokoena affair, then the difference is only three points.
That makes tomorrow's World Cup qualifier in Bloemfontein a do-or-die affair for both countries.
An away win for Nigeria would propel them right back into contention after a generally ineffective qualifying campaign by their high standards, while home success would put South Africa through to the World Cup finals officially, although with an asterisk behind it as world football awaits clarity from FIFA over whether they will be docked points for fielding a defaulter in Mokena back in March when they beat Lesotho in Polokwane.
The fact that FIFA have not made a decision six months after the incident offers the possibility that no sanction might be imposed, meaning that if Hugo Broos’ team win on tomorrow, then South Africa will qualify for the World Cup in North America next year.
It would be a first World Cup appearance since 2010 for Bafana and the first time they have successfully come through the qualifiers in more than two decades. South Africa previously qualified for the 1998 and 2002 finals and, as host, had an automatic berth in the 2010 field.
South Africa started their Group C campaign poorly with a defeat in Rwanda, but the draw in Uyo was pivotal to restoring their chances, and they have since won four subsequent games on the trot, although the 2-0 success over the Basotho in Polokwane in March remains a question mark.
Liverpool star Mohamed Salah could this week become the second African football icon after Achraf Hakimi to ensure his presence at the 2026 World Cup in North America.
Meanwhile, Salah will captain Egypt in Burkina Faso in a top-of-the-table African zone group A qualifier tomorrow (Tuesday), and a win for the Pharaohs will guarantee finishing first with two matches to spare.
Paris Saint-Germain star Hakimi helped Morocco become the first African qualifiers at the weekend when they scored five unanswered goals after Niger were reduced to 10 men by a red card in Rabat.
The nine group winners in Africa qualify for the World Cup, which will feature a record 48 nations, up from 32 at the last edition in Qatar three years ago.
Salah converted a penalty in a 2-0 win over Ethiopia in Cairo on Friday, and Manchester City striker Omar Marmoush also scored from a spot kick to maintain a five-point lead over the Burkinabe. — AFP
