FIFA has appointed a team of South African match officials for the Super Eagles’ FIFA World Cup playoff clash against Gabon on 13 November.
One of the two semi-finals of the African playoffs will be played Morocco.
Zakhele Siwela, another South African, will be one of the assistant referees while Akhona Makalima, his compatriot, will be incharge of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) for the match.
Hughes Ndjovi of the Benin Republic will be the referee assessor for the match.
The news sparked outrage among Nigerians on social media because the country, South Africa and the Benin Republic were all in Group C of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, as well as the old-age rivalry between Nigeria and South Africa.
Nigeria defeated Benin 4-0 on the final day to secure a playoff spot as one of the four best runners-up in the groups.
South Africa finished top of Group C and secured an automatic FIFA World Cup ticket. The Bafana Bafana’s qualification chances had earlier suffered a setback when FIFA overturned the team’s win over Lesotho for fielding an ineligible player.
South Africa’s Minister of Sports, Gayton McKenzie blamed Nigeria for the FIFA sanction and publicly said he does not want the Eagles to qualify for the World Cup.
Against this backdrop, Nigerians pushed back against the selection of South African referees for the country’s playoff clash.
A photo-journalist, Suleiman Adebayo (known on X as Poojasaid) called for the review of the match official list ‘fast’.
He wrote: ‘In fairness and sentiments, South African officials shouldn’t be appointed by CAF to officiate Nigeria vs. Gabon in this WC playoffs in Morocco.
‘A sitting minister in South Africa on tape said he doesn’t want Nigeria to qualify for the WC & CAF had to appoint South Africans as the centre ref, AR & VR in a game involving Nigeria? Even the Ref Assessor is from the Benin Republic. CAF should rethink this fast’.
Another X user, Kappo Ebenezer Sewanu called on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to ‘act’ on the situation.
‘Just like they didn’t act when about three counties played their home matches in South Africa putting Nigeria at a demerit whilst SA enjoyed home support throughout the WC campaign. They will pay attention to little details like this’.
