Tension has reportedly surfaced following FIFA’s decision to appoint a refereeing team from South Africa for Nigeria’s 2026 World Cup playoff clash against Gabon in Rabat on November 13.
According to a FIFA letter dated November 3, Tom Abongile of South Africa will serve as the centre referee, assisted by Zakhele Siwela, while Akhona Makalima will oversee the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) duties.
An official from Benin Republic is also listed among the officiating crew.
Football observers, however, have expressed concern over the decision, citing recent remarks by South Africa’s Sports Minister, Gayton McKenzie, who publicly stated that he hoped Nigeria would not qualify for the World Cup.
During the qualifiers, the Nigerian football authorities faced criticism for not challenging the decision to allow Zimbabwe and Lesotho to play their home matches in South Africa, which gave the South Africans an advantage in both away fixtures.
It was further gathered from reliable sources that an official protest letter to CAF and FIFA was initially drafted but later withdrawn following internal deliberations.
As of the time of filing this report, FIFA and CAF have not issued any official response to the concerns raised over the appointments.
