FIFA Appoints Controversial South African Referees for Nigeria vs Gabon World Cup Playoff

South African referees have been appointed by FIFA to officiate Nigeria’s critical 2026 FIFA World Cup playoff match against Gabon in Rabat, Morocco. Tom Abongile will serve as the centre referee, assisted by Zakhele Siwela as the assistant referee and Akhona Makalima as the Video Assistant Referee (VAR). The referee assessor for the match will be Hughes Ndjovi from Benin Republic.

This appointment has stirred considerable controversy and backlash among Nigerian football fans and officials. Concerns arise from the fact that Nigeria, South Africa, and Benin Republic were all in the same qualifying group (Group C), with South Africa topping the group for automatic World Cup qualification while Nigeria qualified as a best runner-up. Adding to the tension are recent hostile comments by South Africa’s Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie, who publicly opposed Nigeria’s qualification.

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Nigerian fans and some football authorities see this as a potential conflict of interest and unfair, given the recent sporting rivalry and political undertones involved. Calls have been made for CAF and FIFA to review the appointments to maintain fairness and neutrality in such a high-stakes match.

The Nigeria vs Gabon fixture, scheduled for November 13 at Rabat’s Moulay El Hassan Stadium, is a pivotal step in Africa’s World Cup qualifying path, with the winner advancing to play either DR Congo or Cameroon for the continent’s slot in the intercontinental playoff.