By Kunle Solaja.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has formally lodged a complaint with FIFA over what it describes as “a clear conflict of interest” in the appointment of South African and Benin Republic officials to handle Nigeria’s crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying play-off against Gabon.
The decisive fixture is scheduled to take place at the Prince Héritier Moulay El Hassan Rabat, Morocco, next Thursday, with the winner securing a spot in the next phase of the World Cup qualification series.
According to the appointment list signed by Gordon Savic, FIFA’s Head of Qualifiers & International Matches, South Africa’s Abongile Tom will officiate as the centre referee, assisted by compatriot Zakhele Thusi Granville Siwela, who will serve as Assistant Referee 2.
Another South African, Akhona Zennith Makalima, has been named head of the two-person Video Assistant Referee (VAR) team.
Hugues Alain Djovi from Benin Republic will act as the Referee Assessor.
The NFF’s protest, submitted on Wednesday night, argues that assigning match officials from South Africa and Benin Republic—two nations that were in Nigeria’s qualifying group—raises serious concerns over impartiality.
Benin Republic was eliminated in dramatic fashion, with Nigeria edging Cheetahs on the final matchday to advance.
In a strongly worded statement addressed to FIFA, the NFF maintained that “neutrality is a fundamental principle in international officiating” and that the appointments “could compromise the integrity of the match or give room for perceived bias.”
Reference can be made to recent comments by South Africa’s Sports Minister, Gayton McKenzie, who publicly stated that he would not want Nigeria to qualify for the World Cup. Speaking during an interview with Johannesburg’s Radio 947 days ago.
McKenzie accused Nigeria of “attempting to sabotage South Africa’s qualification campaign” and vowed that “justice will be served on the pitch.”
What the sports minister meant by sabotage was the Group C protest against South Africa’s fielding of ineligible player – an offence that other nations had been penalized for.
FIFA eventually penalized South Africa for the infringement. Most Nigerians perceived the statement by the South African sports minister as “unprofessional and inflammatory,” noting that appointing referees from a country whose senior government official has expressed hostility toward Nigeria “is at best insensitive and at worst prejudicial.”
FIFA has not yet issued an official response to Nigeria’s protest, but sources within the NFF revealed that the federation is pressing for the replacement of all match officials from South Africa and Benin Republic before the fixture.
The Nigeria–Gabon play-off is regarded as one of the most anticipated ties in the African qualifiers, with both teams fighting to stay in contention for a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
