Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has addressed ongoing reports regarding South Africa’s alleged fielding of an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, in their crucial 2-0 victory over Lesotho in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Following Nigeria’s disappointing 1-1 draw against Zimbabwe in Uyo on Tuesday, the Super Eagles' qualification campaign has suffered a setback. The result leaves Nigeria fourth in Group C with seven points, trailing group leaders South Africa by six points.

However, Lesotho’s formal protest to FIFA over Mokoena’s eligibility has sparked renewed hope for the Super Eagles, as a ruling against South Africa could significantly alter the group standings.

Speaking after Nigeria’s match, Chelle remained cautious and refrained from making definitive statements about the issue. Instead, he emphasized that his priority remains on improving his team’s performance rather than focusing on external factors.

“I don’t want to tell you about that. I said yesterday we are focused on our game, so this is why I talked to my guys after the game,” Chelle told reporters, signaling his intent to keep his squad concentrated on their own qualification efforts.

Nevertheless, Chelle acknowledged that should FIFA decide to penalize South Africa and deduct points from their win over Lesotho, Nigeria’s qualification hopes could receive a significant boost.

“I am trusting them, and maybe if South Africa loses three points, the last game is against Rwanda, so we can pass this team, and after that, we have a game against South Africa,” Chelle explained, highlighting how the potential ruling could impact Nigeria’s path to the 2026 World Cup.

“If it is true, we will see what happens in the coming days,” he added, expressing a wait-and-see approach to the ongoing controversy.

Should FIFA rule in Lesotho’s favor, South Africa’s current 10-point tally could be reduced to seven, placing Nigeria just three points behind with four crucial matches remaining in the qualification campaign. The decision could set the stage for a highly competitive finish in Group C, with the Super Eagles aiming to capitalize on any opportunities to reclaim a strong position in the standings.