World Cup Qualifier: Nine Nigeria players one booking away from suspension vs South Africa

By Dayo Awoniyi

As Nigeria prepares for a decisive 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against South Africa, concerns are mounting within the Super Eagles camp, with nine key players at risk of suspension due to accumulated yellow cards.

The affected players are just one booking away from missing the potentially decisive away clash in Johannesburg, scheduled for September. This disciplinary tightrope could significantly weaken Nigeria’s squad at a critical juncture in the qualification race.

Among those walking the suspension line are regular defenders Semi Ajayi and Calvin Bassey, who were booked in earlier qualifiers against Lesotho and Zimbabwe, respectively.

Sadiq Umar and Jamilu Collins also face possible suspension after being cautioned as substitutes in the Zimbabwe match, while full-back Bright Osayi-Samuel picked up a yellow during the reverse fixture against South Africa.

Ismaila Sodiq, who featured in the loss to Benin Republic, is also on the list alongside midfielders Wilfred Ndidi and Alex Iwobi, and striker Tolu Arokodare, all of whom were carded during Nigeria’s 2–0 win over Rwanda.

Before the South Africa showdown, Nigeria must first host Rwanda in Uyo—a match that could prove pivotal not just for points, but also for squad availability.

The Super Eagles currently trail group leaders South Africa by six points. Nigeria is reportedly hopeful that FIFA will dock points from South Africa for allegedly fielding an ineligible player in their match against Lesotho.

With the race for qualification heating up, the coaching staff now faces a strategic dilemma: whether to field a full-strength squad against Rwanda or rest players at risk of suspension ahead of the high-stakes trip to Johannesburg.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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