The Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein has officially been cleared by FIFA and CAF to host the high-stakes World Cup qualifying clash between Nigeria’s Super Eagles and South Africa’s Bafana Bafana, putting to rest earlier concerns over the venue’s readiness.
Doubts had surfaced in recent weeks regarding the condition of the stadium’s pitch, with reports suggesting it fell short of international standards. However, after fresh inspections, football’s world and continental governing bodies jointly confirmed that significant improvements had been made to the playing surface.
“After assessing the remarkable improvements made on the playing surface, both FIFA and CAF have agreed that the games will proceed as scheduled at the Free State Stadium,” the joint statement read.
The decision comes as a major relief for South Africa’s football authorities, who had been under pressure to find an alternative ground. It also means that Lesotho—who lack a FIFA-standard stadium of their own—will play their designated home fixture at the venue on Friday, September 5.
Four days later, on September 9, the stadium will host the much-anticipated matchday eight encounter between South Africa and Nigeria, a fixture widely regarded as decisive in shaping the group standings.
Currently, Bafana Bafana top the qualifying group with 13 points from six matches, while Nigeria sit in fourth place with seven points, trailing Rwanda and Benin Republic. With only a handful of matches left, the Super Eagles—under coach Eric Chelle—face mounting pressure to collect maximum points in their upcoming ties against Rwanda and South Africa.
The stakes could not be higher for Nigeria, who are chasing their seventh appearance at the FIFA World Cup, set to take place in 2026 across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Report By: Kalu Divine | Edited By: Chris Odjomah |