Players of the senior national team of Nigeria say they have been told that FIFA will deduct three points from World Cup Qualifiers rivals South Africa for fielding an ineligible player in their 2-0 win over Lesotho, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
Teboho Mokoena was supposed to be suspended for the win over Lesotho after picking up two previous bookings, but played for over 80 minutes in the win, before sitting out the win away to Benin Republic.
That action has proved costly with FIFA slamming a three points deduction on them, which has reduced their lead at the top of the group to one over Lesotho, who will be handed three points and three goals from the game.
Crucially Nigeria will move to within three points of the leaders giving them a glimmer of hope towards picking the sole ticket from the group, with a game away to South Africa shaping up to be the group’s decider.
” We are aware of the saga and also the expected punishment. So it’s nothing to be worried about. It’s now left for us to take advantage of the situation because failure to do so will mean we don’t deserve to go to the world cup”, a senior player in the team said in London where they are campaigning in the Unity Cup.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
