As the rest of the world waits on FIFA to formally deduct three points and three goals from South Africa, for fielding an ineligible player in a world cup qualifiers game, Nigerians have been accused as the driving force behind the campaign.
Teboho Mokoena who was supposed to be suspended after picking up two yellow cards in previous games played for over 80 minutes in South Africa 2-0 win over Lesotho.
A punishment of a three points, three goals deduction is usually meted upon teams who commit such blunders with or without a protest from other teams in the group.
Speaking to a group of Nigerian journalist at the recently concluded Club World Cup, a chieftain of the South Africa Football Association (SAFA) said Lesotho had no knowledge of it until the Nigerian media made a huge meal out of it.
He said since then, the media in Nigeria as well as their administrators have refused to lie low on the issue, hence putting FIFA under huge pressure to deduct their points and goals tally.
Maintaining that the point deduction will no doubt throw the group open, he still believe that they will win their remaining games and seal a spot in next year’s world cup ahead of Nigeria.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
