Free State Stadium Cleared to Host Super Eagles, Bafana Clash
The Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein has been approved by FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to host next week’s World Cup qualifier between Nigeria’s Super Eagles and South Africa’s Bafana Bafana.
Uncertainty had surrounded the choice of venue after concerns were raised about the state of the pitch, prompting further inspections by officials from both governing bodies. Following the review, the stadium was cleared to host upcoming fixtures.
Ahead of the Nigeria-South Africa encounter on September 9, the venue will also stage Lesotho’s World Cup qualifying match on September 5, as the country currently lacks a FIFA-approved stadium.
South Africa lead their qualifying group with 13 points from six matches, while Nigeria sit fourth on seven points, trailing Rwanda and Benin Republic, who occupy second and third place respectively.
The Super Eagles must secure maximum points from their remaining fixtures against Rwanda and South Africa to keep alive their hopes of reaching the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
