Controversial Referee Appointment Sparks Outrage in Nigeria
FIFA’s decision to assign South African officials to officiate the 2026 World Cup playoff match between Nigeria and Gabon has triggered widespread anger among fans and football stakeholders in Nigeria. The move has been widely perceived as insensitive and biased, especially given the tense relationship between Nigerian and South African football authorities.
On November 3, 2025, FIFA confirmed that Tom Abongile will be the referee for the match, which is scheduled to take place on November 13 at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat, Morocco. Zakhele Siwela will serve as the assistant referee, while Akhona Makalima will handle the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) duties.
The appointment has not been well received in Nigeria, particularly considering the strained relations between the two nations. Earlier in the World Cup qualifiers, Bafana Bafana, South Africa’s national team, edged out Nigeria to secure an automatic spot in Group C. This outcome was followed by a controversy when South Africa was penalized with a three-point and three-goal deduction for fielding an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, during a match against Lesotho. The incident left a lingering sense of bitterness between the two countries.
The situation escalated further when South Africa’s Sports Minister, Gayton McKenzie, made comments suggesting he did not want Nigeria to qualify for the World Cup. This statement has intensified the perception that South Africa is hostile towards Nigeria.
A senior official from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) expressed concern over the appointment, stating, “How can FIFA appoint a South African referee after their sports minister openly said he wished Nigeria would not qualify for the World Cup? South Africa is clearly hostile to us.”
The backlash has been significant on social media platforms. Popular media personality @PoojaMedia criticized the decision, saying, “In fairness & 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 still appointed South Africans as centre ref, AR & VAR? CAF should rethink this fast.”
Another X user, Kappo Ebenezer Sewanu, urged the NFF to take action. He tweeted, “The sad thing is, NFF will not act on this info. Just like they didn’t act when about three countries played their home matches in South Africa, putting Nigeria at a demerit while SA enjoyed home support throughout the WC campaign. They will pay attention to little details like this.”
Despite the outcry, FIFA’s Referees Committee maintains that its selections are based on competence and neutrality. South African officials are known for their experience and have frequently been involved in CAF and FIFA tournaments.
The NFF has yet to issue an official response to the controversy. Meanwhile, the Super Eagles advanced to the playoff round after a dramatic victory over Benin Republic in October, thanks to Frank Onyeka’s late goal.
The winner of the two-legged tie between Nigeria and Gabon will face either DR Congo or Cameroon in the final qualification round.