Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle has voiced his frustration over the poor condition of the Free State Stadium pitch following the Super Eagles’ 1-1 draw with South Africa in their Group C clash of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers on Tuesday night.
The Super Eagles came from behind to rescue a point in Bloemfontein, but the result leaves their qualification hopes hanging by a thread. Nigeria sit on 12 points after eight matches, six adrift of leaders South Africa, who have 17 points with just two rounds of fixtures left to play.
Chelle Slams Playing Conditions
Speaking to reporters after the game, Chelle highlighted how the pitch prevented both sides from showcasing their quality.
💬 “We had no time to prepare for this game, because we travelled and we arrived late,” Chelle explained.
💬 “So we had just one training session. So now we need to prepare on the pitch. We did prepare for this game mentally. And for sure, because of this pitch, we need to be ready mentally.
💬 I’m very disappointed about this pitch, because the two teams deserve a great pitch, because, you know, like I said, South Africa, play well, very well. They have a great team.”
FIFA’s Reversal and Controversy
The Free State Stadium had initially been banned by FIFA due to concerns over its surface, but the decision was reversed before this international window. As a result, South Africa hosted Lesotho at the venue on September 5 and then welcomed Nigeria four days later.
Chelle, however, insisted the pitch failed to meet the standards expected at this level, hinting that both teams were denied the opportunity to perform at their full potential.
Nigeria’s Slim Qualification Hopes
While the draw keeps Nigeria mathematically alive, their path to the 2026 World Cup now relies heavily on results elsewhere. The Super Eagles need South Africa and Benin Republic to falter in the final two games to stand any chance of sneaking into contention.
Meanwhile, Hugo Broos’ Bafana Bafana look on course for qualification, buoyed by their unbeaten home run during the qualifiers and the six-point gap that now separates them from Nigeria.
