The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has sent a major shockwave through Africa's 2026 World Cup qualifiers after its stadium facilities team rejected Bloemfontein pitch, in South Africa for Lesotho's important match against Nigeria.

The decision was communicated via email to the Lesotho Football Association, instructing them to "designate an alternative venue, from the official list of CAF category 3 stadiums" by the deadline of September 24th.

The move forces Lesotho to find a new home for the October 6 qualifier, a match that holds important weight for Nigeria's World Cup aspirations.

Lesotho's national team has been without a CAF-approved home ground for several years. Their primary stadium, Setsoto Stadium, does not meet the necessary standards for hosting international fixtures, which has often forced the team to play their "home" games in neighbouring countries.

South Africa's stadiums have frequently been a preferred choice for Lesotho due to their proximity and high-quality facilities.

CAF’s rejection of the yet-to-be-named South African venue now complicates the logistics for both teams and adds to the pressure on Lesotho's football administration to secure an alternative location on short notice.

The Nigeria-Lesotho match is one of the final two qualifiers for the Super Eagles in their Group C campaign.

The three-time African champions are currently in third place, trailing group leaders South Africa. With only the group winner guaranteed a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Nigeria needs to secure a victory against Lesotho to keep its qualification hopes alive.

The result of this match, and the subsequent home fixture against Benin, will be critical for Nigeria.

With the September 24th deadline fast approaching, the Lesotho Football Association faces an immediate challenge. They must identify a suitable stadium from the limited pool of CAF-approved Category 3 venues in Africa and secure a deal to host the match.

Failure to do so could result in further sanctions from CAF, including the possibility of a forfeit.