FIFA Faces Backlash for Appointing South African Referees to Officiate Nigeria vs Gabon World Cup Playoff

FIFA’s decision to appoint a team of South African match officials for the Super Eagles’ 2026 World Cup playoff semi-final against Gabon has stirred controversy among Nigerian football fans, who are questioning the fairness and neutrality of the move.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria will take on Gabon on November 13 in Morocco in one of two African playoff semi-final fixtures. The winner of this highly anticipated clash will advance to the final round, where they will battle either Cameroon or Congo DR for a spot in the intercontinental playoff, which offers Africa’s last chance to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

According to FIFA’s appointment list, Tom Abongile from South Africa will serve as the centre referee. He will be assisted by Zakhele Siwela as one of the assistant referees, while Akhona Makalima, also from South Africa, has been selected as the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).
In addition, Hughes Ndjovi from Benin Republic will act as the referee assessor for the crucial fixture.

The announcement has sparked intense reactions on Nigerian social media, where fans and analysts have expressed concerns about potential bias and conflict of interest.
Their frustration stems from the fact that Nigeria, South Africa, and Benin Republic were all in Group C during the African qualifiers.

Nigeria secured their playoff spot after thrashing Benin 4–0 on the final day to finish as one of the best runners-up, while South Africa topped the group following a controversial decision by FIFA to overturn Bafana Bafana’s forfeited win over Lesotho for fielding an ineligible player.

Adding fuel to the controversy, South Africa’s Minister of Sports, Gayton McKenzie, had previously made comments openly criticizing Nigeria’s qualification prospects. Following FIFA’s ruling that reinstated South Africa’s automatic qualification, McKenzie publicly stated that he did not want the Super Eagles to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

Given these past tensions, many Nigerian supporters and pundits have described FIFA’s decision to appoint South African officials as “insensitive” and potentially compromising to the integrity of the match.

Several Nigerian football commentators and fans have called on FIFA and CAF to review the referee appointments to ensure fair play and avoid any perception of bias in such a critical encounter.
As the Super Eagles prepare for Gabon, the controversy surrounding the officiating crew continues to dominate headlines, raising questions about FIFA’s transparency and neutrality in African football governance.