The senior national team of Nigeria need a 1-0 win over Benin Republic next week to qualify for the world cup, if South Africa fail to beat Rwanda in the group’s other game, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.
Following yesterday’s 2-1 win over Lesotho and with South Africa playing out a 0-0 draw against Zimbabwe, the senior national team of Nigeria moved within one point of the second placed team but still remain three points behind Benin Republic who were 1-0 winners over Rwanda in Kigali.
Heading into the last round of games, Nigeria will go into it with two options which can be activated with a 1-0 win over Benin Republic, meaning they can either finish second and pick a playoff spot or finish top if South Africa fail to beat Rwanda.
In the event that South Africa fails to beat Rwanda, the Nigerian team will only need a 1-0 win to go level on point with Benin Republic at the top. They will also be tied on goal difference which is the first tie breaker.
With goal difference unable to pick a winner, the next breaker with be goal scored and even on that they will both be level on the same number of goals scored. Then the third breaker which is head to head will now be used.
A 1-0 win for Nigeria will see both teams tied on a 2-2 aggregate owing to the fact that Benin Republic won the reverse fixture 2-1. It’s at this juncture that the away goal rule will now be applied.
The goal Nigeria scored away will be okay for them to progress as group winners, but this is only possible if South Africa fail to beat Rwanda. However a 1-0 win will also put them in pole position to finish as one of the best four runners up , which will seal a play off spot owing to CAF’s directive on points picked against the bottom team in all group following the withdrawal of Eritrea.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
