Nigeria will secure the World Cup ticket if they beat Benin handsomely and South Africa draw or lose.
By Kehinde Okeowo
The quest to secure a ticket for next year’s FIFA World Cup is now a three-horse race between Nigeria, the Benin Republic, and South Africa.
The Benin Republic currently top Group C of the 2026 World Cup qualifier with 17 points. They are closely followed by South Africa on 15 points, while the Super Eagles of Nigeria have 14 points with just one game remaining for all three teams.
Qualification Scenarios
All the deciding matches will kick off simultaneously on Tuesday evening at 5 PM Nigerian time: Nigeria will host the Benin Republic, while South Africa will face Rwanda.
Benin Republic hold their destiny. A win against Nigeria, will guarantee the Squirrels their first-ever World Cup appearance, regardless of the South Africa vs. Rwanda outcome.
Nigeria can secure the World Cup ticket only if they defeat the Benin Republic and South Africa simultaneously draw or lose against Rwanda. Since goal difference is the tiebreaker, Nigeria’s victory will need to be decisive.
South Africa’s Bafana Bafana can secure the top spot and qualify if they beat Rwanda and the match between Nigeria and the Benin Republic does not result in a win for either side (i.e., a draw) or if Nigeria defeat the Benin Republic but have an inferior goal difference. A South Africa win combined with a Benin win would still see Benin qualify.
