Nigeria’s Super Eagles have received a boost in their 2026 World Cup qualification campaign after the Court of Arbitration for Sport, CAS, upheld FIFA’s decision to deduct six points from Equatorial Guinea for fielding an ineligible player, Emilio Nsue.
Cyber Reporters reports that Nsue had played for Spain at the youth level and did not receive the necessary clearance to switch allegiance to Equatorial Guinea.
As a result, Equatorial Guinea’s wins over Namibia and Liberia were overturned, with both teams awarded 3-0 victories.
This decision dramatically altered Group H standings, dropping Equatorial Guinea to fifth place.
For Nigeria, this development keeps their World Cup hopes alive, particularly in the hunt for one of the four best runners-up slots across Africa.
Nigeria currently sits third in Group C, behind South Africa and Benin.
However, their chances could improve further depending on an ongoing FIFA investigation into South Africa’s use of a suspended player, Teboho Mokoena, in a match against Lesotho.
If South Africa loses points, it could make Group C more competitive and enhance Nigeria’s path to the World Cup.
With crucial matches against Lesotho and Benin upcoming, a strong performance combined with potential sanctions on South Africa could significantly improve the Super Eagles’ chances of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
