World Cup Qualifier: FIFA Picks Chadian Referee for Lesotho, Nigeria Showdown

By BUNMI OGUNYALE World football-governing body, FIFA, has selected Chadian official Alhadi Allaou Mahamat as the referee for next week’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match between Nigeria’s Super Eagles and the Crocodiles of Lesotho.   The Matchday 9 encounter is billed for the New Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, South Africa on Friday, 10th October 2025 and will kick off at 6pm South Africa time (5pm Nigeria time).   Allaou, who was also in charge for Nigeria’s 1-0 win over Rwanda in Uyo on 6th September (Matchday 7), will work with compatriots Bogola Issa (assistant 1), Moussa Hafiz (assistant 2) and Abdelkerim Ousmane (fourth official).   FIFA also appointed Kenyan official Alice Damaris Kimani as referee assessor, while William Makinati Shongwe from eSwatini will be in the role of commissioner.   Nigeria, presently three points off first-placed Benin Republic and second-placed South Africa, will go for an outright win to enhance their chances of reaching the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals, to be jointly-hosted by the United States of America, Canada and Mexico next summer.  

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Osimhen, Iwobi Return As Chelle Names 23-Man Squad For World Cup Qualifiers

Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, has announced a 23-man squad for Nigeria’s decisive 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Benin Republic, with Victor Osimhen and Alex Iwobi returning to the team. Osimhen, who recently joined Galatasaray, missed Nigeria’s last outing — a 1-1 draw with South Africa — after picking up an injury in the 1-0 win over Rwanda in Uyo. Fulham midfielder Iwobi also makes the cut as Chelle looks to strengthen the midfield for the must-win games. Nigeria currently sits third in Group C with 11 points, three behind South Africa and Benin Republic, with two matches left. However, the Super Eagles were handed a boost after FIFA stripped South Africa of three points for fielding ineligible player Teboho Mokoena in their March 21, 2025 victory over Lesotho. The squad also features captain William Troost-Ekong, Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman, and Tolu Arokodare. Terem Moffi, Semi Ajayi, Alhassan Yusuf, and Olakunle Olusegun return to the fold, while Sevilla striker Akor Adams has earned his first senior call-up. Squad List Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania); Adeleye Adebayo (Volos, Greece) Defenders: William Troost-Ekong (Al-Kholood, Saudi Arabia); Calvin Bassey (Fulham, England); Semi Ajayi (Hull City, England); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham City, England); Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos, Greece); Felix Agu (Werder Bremen, Germany); Benjamin Fredericks (Dender, Belgium) Midfielders: Alex Iwobi (Fulham, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford, England); Alhassan Yusuf (New England Revolution, USA); Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas, Turkey) Forwards: Ademola Lookman (Atalanta, Italy); Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray, Turkey); Moses Simon (Paris FC, France); Cyriel Dessers (Rangers, Scotland); Tolu Arokodare (Genk, Belgium); Terem Moffi (Nice, France); Akor Adams (Sevilla, Spain); Olakunle Olusegun (Pari Nizhny Novgorod, Russia)

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Int’l Friendlies: Super Eagles to Play Venezuela & Colombia in USA

The Nigeria Football Federation has confirmed that the senior men national team, Super Eagles, will take on Venezuela and Colombia in the United States of America during the FIFA window for international friendly matches in the month of November 2025. NFF’s FIFA Match Agent, Jairo Pachon of Eurodata Sport, said the Super Eagles will be up against Venezuela on Friday, 14th November 2025 at the Shell Stadium in Houston, Texas, with kick-off billed for 8pm Texas time. On Tuesday, 18th November 2025, the three-time African champions will confront the Los Cafeteros of Colombia at the Citi Field Stadium in Flushing Meadows, borough of Queens, New York with kick-off billed for 8pm Eastern Time (1am Wednesday, 19th November in Nigeria). In their last sojourn in the United States of America, in the summer of 2022, the Super Eagles played against Mexico at the AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas, losing narrowly 1-2, with Nigeria’s goal coming off a powerful header by Cyriel Dessers. It was the first match in charge for Portuguese Coach José Peseiro. The Eagles also took on Ecuador’s La Tricolor in New Jersey, losing by the odd goal.

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Super Eagles Slip on FIFA World Ranking

Former African Champions, Super Eagles have dropped one spot in World football governing body, FIFA monthly world ranking. The Eric Chelle lads are ranked 45th in the world and are sixth in Africa behind Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, Algeria and Cote d’Ivoire. Nigeria won 1483.86 points as against her 1484.26 points in July. Meanwhile, Spain have returned to the ranking summit after a making a sensational start to qualifying for World Cup 26. They kicked off their campaign with a 3-0 win in Bulgaria, then made it back-to-back away victories with a 6-0 trouncing of Turkey. La Roja last topped the ranking back in June 2014, when they were world and European champions. Argentina – the reigning world champions – booked their ticket to next year’s global finals back in March and had already secured top spot in the CONMEBOL qualifying standings before their final-round defeat to Ecuador. That loss has resulted in them losing their grip as the planet’s top-ranked team, however. La Albiceleste are now third, with France second after back-to-back wins over Ukraine and Iceland.

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World Cup Qualifier: Gabonese Officials to Take Charge of S’Africa Vs Nigeria

World football-governing body, FIFA has appointed Gabonese official Pierre Ghislain Atcho as referee for next Tuesday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match between Nigeria and South Africa in Bloemfontein. It is a Matchday 8 encounter in the African qualification series, and will hold at the Toyota Stadium. Atcho’s compatriots Boris Marlaise Ditsoga, Amos Abeigne Ndong and Cregue Fleury Moukagni will serve as assistant referee 1, assistant referee 2 and fourth official respectively. Olivier Safari Kabene from the Democratic Republic of Congo will serve as the referee assessor while Ugandan Mike Letti will be in the role of commissioner. Chadian official Allaou Mahamat will be the referee for Saturday’s Matchday 7 encounter between Nigeria and Rwanda at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, with his compatriots Bogollah Issa, Moussa Hafiz and Abdelkerim Ousmane in the roles of assistant referee 1, assistant referee 2 and fourth official respectively. Taher Abdelsalam Mahmoud from Egypt will serve as referee assessor while Bakary Jammeh from Gambia will be the commissioner.

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World Cup Qualifier: Eagles Insist Focus Is On Amavubi Before Bafana

The Super Eagles are not making the mistake of thinking too much about the showdown with South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in Bloemfontein on Tuesday, but are rather focused on their clash with Rwanda’s Amavubi in Uyo on Saturday, according to team captain William Ekong. “You take one step at a time. We have Rwanda to play on Saturday, and there are three points there. After that is concluded, then we begin to think of South Africa. There are three points also in there when we play in Bloemfontein, but that is a few days after Rwanda. Rwanda comes first,” Ekong said on Thursday. Nigeria has not had a campaign to shout about, especially in the first four matches of which she won none, but Ekong says the squad has committed to taking all points in the remaining games, believing that will be good enough to send Nigeria to the 48-nation finals in North America next summer. “We will do our very best to go all out and win the remaining four matches. Hopefully, that will be good enough to take us there.” The encounter with Rwanda, who lost the Matchday 5 that brought both teams at loggerheads in Kigali in March, is a Matchday 7 fixture, while the confrontation with South Africa is a Matchday 8 encounter. During the 1998 FIFA World Cup finals in France, the Super Eagles were focused on a potential Match-of-the-Tournament clash with Brazil in the quarter-finals, and failed to focus on their Round of 16 tie with Denmark. Following a 4-1 thumping of Nigeria in the game, Denmark’s ace winger Brian Laudrup said at the post-match conference: “Nigeria should learn to count one before four.” Nigeria’s camp attained full capacity on Wednesday evening, with the arrivals of midfielders Raphael Onyedika and Christantus Uche, and forwards Victor Osimhen, Samuel Chukwueze and Tolu Arokodare.

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World Cup Qualifier: Fans to Pay N3,000 & N1,000 to Watch Eagles, Amavubi Clash

Football fans will pay the sum of N3,000 and N1,000 respectively to watch Saturday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Amavubi of Rwanda at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo. Tickets for the VIP section will go for N3,000 and the popular seats will sell for N1,000 at designated centres within the Uyo metropolis from Friday morning. NFF’s Director of Marketing and Sponsorship, Alizor Chuks, said on Wednesday: “It is important to let the general public know that the NFF Security Committee has declared total war on all ticket manipulators this time. Ticket fakers and racketeers will be dealt with. “All tickets will be scanned at the gates. All intending spectators are advised to buy their tickets from accredited ticket sellers. Fake ticket sellers or holders will be arrested and prosecuted.” Ahead of Saturday’s match, the Amavubi contingent landed at the Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo at 5.28pm on Tuesday. The delegation was led by the newly-elected President of the Federation Rwandaise de Football Association (FERWAFA), Fabrice Shema Agoga. The contingent was well-received by a team from the local organizing committee, and is staying at the Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort, Uyo. They are scheduled to train at the practice pitch of the Nest of Champions by 4pm on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Nigerian camp at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel, Ikot-Ekpene has been further enlarged with the arrivals of Africa Player of the Year, Ademola Lookman, and new Panathinaikos of Greece forward Cyriel Dessers. Both arrived in Uyo on Wednesday morning. The remaining five players, viz Victor Osimhen, Christantus Uche, Tolu Arokodare, Samuel Chukwueze and Raphael Onyedika were being expected on Wednesday evening.

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World Cup Qualifier: Eagles’ Camp Comes Alive, as Training Begins in Uyo

Nigeria’s camp has come truly alive ahead of Saturday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying showdown with Rwanda, with team captain William Troost-Ekong leading by example. The Saudi Arabia-based defender arrived camp on Monday, alongside goalkeeper Amas Obasogie and defenders Bruno Onyemaechi and Felix Agu. Agu, who plays his club football with Werder Bremen in Germany, impressed at left back at the Unity Cup Tournament in London in the summer. Dependable forward Simon Moses, who scored a goal and made an assist in his new club, Paris FC’s league win at the weekend, is also in camp, as Greece-based goalkeeper Adeleye Adebayo, defenders Chidozie Awaziem and Benjamin Fredericks, and midfielders Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru. Wing-back Olaoluwa Aina, defenders Bright Osayi-Samuel and Calvin Bassey, and midfielder Alex Iwobi have also arrived. First-choice goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, back in training after an injury scare last week, was being expected on Tuesday evening, while midfielder Christantus Uche, who moved to English side Crystal Palace from Getafe of Spain on transfer deadline-day, is being expected alongside forwards Samuel Chukwueze (now in English Premiership side, Fulham FC from AC Milan of Italy), Tolu Arokodare (now in Wolverhampton Wanderers from KRC Genk in Belgium) and Cyriel Dessers (now in Panathinaikos in Greece from Glasgow Rangers of Scotland). African Player of the Year, Ademola Lookman, Galatasaray of Turkey’s Victor Osimhen and midfielder Raphael Onyedika are also being expected. The squad of 23 will also execute Tuesday’s Matchday 8 encounter against South Africa in Bloemfontein, which will be played at the Toyota Stadium (also known as Free State Stadium) on Tuesday evening.

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