Nigeria's World Cup hopes suffer a huge blow as South Africa receive unfair advantage

Nigeria’s Super Eagles' hopes of overtaking South Africa in their World Cup qualifying group took a further blow, despite the three-point deduction handed to the Bafana Bafana. 

The Super Eagles had been handed a lifeline when FIFA docked South Africa three points for fielding an ineligible player in their 2-0 win over Lesotho. 

However, while the three points reduced the gap between the two nations to three points, the Super Eagles still face an uphill task, as South Africa has been handed a huge advantage going into the final qualifying games this month. 

The Bafana Bafana face Zimbabwe in an away game in their next qualifying match on Friday, the same day Nigeria take on Lesotho. 

However, the 1996 African champions will not need to travel for the match as the encounter will take place in their country due to Zimbabwe’s lack of FIFA-approved stadiums. 

There had been initial reports that the match would take place in Botswana, but it is now confirmed that the game will be played at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. 

This gives South Africa an advantage, even though they are technically the away side. Hugo Broos’ men will be backed by a massive home crowd on that day, even though they are the away side. 

South Africa have enjoyed home advantage in almost half of their games in this qualifier, as they also played both games against Lesotho at home. 

With the Bafana Bafana getting a home advantage on Friday, the Super Eagles will now need Zimbabwe to perform a miracle. 

The Warriors are out of the qualification race and will only play for pride, which further complicates Nigeria’s situation. 

The Super Eagles are currently three points behind South Africa and Benin, who lead the group on goal difference. 

For the Super Eagles to qualify, they will need South Africa to lose one of their final two games against Zimbabwe and Rwanda, and also beat Lesotho and Benin in their final two matches. 

Eric Chelle’s men face Lesotho on Friday before wrapping up their qualifying campaign with a home clash against Gernot Rohr’s Benin.