Nigeria’s Super Eagles have been handed a timely boost in their 2026 World Cup qualification campaign after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upheld FIFA’s decision to dock six points from Equatorial Guinea for fielding an ineligible player.
The saga revolves around striker Emilio Nsue, who scored the decisive goals in Equatorial Guinea’s 1-0 wins over Namibia and Liberia last November.
Despite representing the nation for more than ten years, FIFA ruled that Nsue had not received the necessary clearance to switch international allegiance from Spain, where he had previously played at the youth level.
The governing body subsequently overturned both results, awarding 3-0 victories to Equatorial Guinea’s opponents.
Equatorial Guinea had appealed the decision, but CAS dismissed their challenge, a ruling that dramatically reshapes Group H standings. The country drops from second place with 16 points to fifth with 10, while Namibia rises to second with 15 points, keeping their continental play-off hopes alive.
For Nigeria, the implications are huge. In Group C, South Africa tops with 17 points, followed by Benin on 14 and Nigeria on 11. With the Equatorial Guinea ruling, the Eagles stay in the hunt for one of the four best runners-up slots across Africa, which would grant them a place in the inter-confederation play-offs.
The Super Eagles’ chances could improve even further depending on FIFA’s ongoing investigation into South Africa.
The South African Football Association is under scrutiny for fielding Teboho Mokoena in a match against Lesotho in March, despite the midfielder being suspended due to accumulated yellow cards.
Should FIFA rescind the three points South Africa earned in that game, Bafana Bafana could drop to 14 points, making Group C even more competitive and enhancing Nigeria’s path to the World Cup.
Nigeria will face Lesotho away and Benin at home in the closing rounds of Group C. A strong showing in those matches, combined with potential sanctions on South Africa, could significantly improve the Eagles’ chances of securing a spot at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
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