By KUNLE SOLAJA.

Even if the Super Eagles secure qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada, no Nigerian club is likely to benefit from the record $355 million FIFA has earmarked for its expanded Club Benefits Programme (CBP).

The initiative, announced by FIFA on Tuesday, will distribute the funds to clubs worldwide as compensation for releasing players to national teams during both World Cup qualifiers and the final tournament. It represents a 70% increase from the $209 million disbursed after the 2022 edition in Qatar.

However, Nigerian clubs will once again be on the sidelines of this financial bonanza. Traditionally, no player from the domestic Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) makes the World Cup roster. Instead, the benefits flow to clubs in Europe, Asia, and other leagues where Nigerian internationals ply their trade.

In Qatar 2022, the Super Eagles missed out on the finals altogether, but in earlier editions such as 2018 and 2014, the compensation went to European teams like Leicester City, Villarreal, Fenerbahçe, Nantes, and Napoli — the employers of Nigerian stars. Not a kobo trickled down to Nigerian clubs.

At Qatar 2022, even if Nigeria had qualified, nothing would have come to any Nigerian club in the sharing of the $209 million that FIFA distributed as the Super Eagles selection would not have included any home-based player.

In contrast clubs from the other African countries got the following:

• Wydad Casablanca (Morocco) — $1,405,305 (reported as the largest CAF club share).
• Espérance de Tunis (Tunisia) —$525,620.
• Club Africain (Tunisia) — $312,087.
• Étoile du Sahel (Tunisia) — $262,810.
• CS Sfaxien (Tunisia) — $197,107.
• US Monastir (Tunisia) — $197,107.
• Asante Kotoko (Ghana) — $219,008 (one of five Ghanaian clubs to receive payments totaling roughly  $565,772 distributed to clubs via the Ghana FA).
• Hearts of Oak (Ghana) — $200,757.
• Generation Foot (Senegal) — $20,075 (example of a smaller-club payout in Africa).

FIFA President Gianni Infantino described the updated CBP as “recognising financially the huge contribution clubs make to the staging of both the qualifiers and the finals.” ECA Chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi hailed it as “innovative,” noting it rewards clubs for their pivotal role in developing and releasing players.

But for Nigeria, the irony persists: a country that produces world-class talent sees the financial recognition bypass its domestic system. With the 2026 edition expanding benefits to qualifiers, more foreign clubs tied to Nigerian internationals will cash in — from Napoli (Victor Osimhen) to AC Milan (Samuel Chukwueze) and Fulham (Calvin Bassey).

Meanwhile, NPFL sides like Enyimba, Shooting Stars, and Kano Pillars — once the nurseries of national team talent — remain spectators in the money game.

The situation underscores Nigeria’s enduring challenge: developing its league to the point where home-based players feature consistently for the Super Eagles, thereby ensuring that global windfalls like FIFA’s CBP directly strengthen local football.

Behold the clubs that will benefit should Nigeria qualify for World Cup

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By KUNLE SOLAJA.

The controversy surrounding South Africa’s use of an ineligible player in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers has taken a new twist, with even South Africans now urging FIFA to deliver a ruling.

At the heart of the dispute is midfielder Teboho Mokoena, who was fielded in Bafana Bafana’s 2-0 win over Lesotho in Polokwane last March despite being suspended after picking up two yellow cards earlier in the campaign.

While South Africa admitted the blunder, FIFA has yet to make a decision on possible sanctions — six months later. But the football governing body has made decisions on infractions committed in June in other continents of South America, Europe and Asia while   turning the blind eye to that of Africa.

The African football confederation is being led by a South African, thus fueling suspicions. Teboho Mokoena, the offending player also features for Mamelodi Sundowns, a club owned by the CAF president.

Writing in South African newspaper, Sowetan, sports editor Nkareng Matshe argued that FIFA’s silence risks tarnishing what has otherwise been an impressive qualifying run by Bafana Bafana.

“We have already admitted to the error, and precedence dictates that we be punished and stripped of three points,” Matshe wrote.

 “FIFA’s delay in making a ruling should not be treated as a cause for celebration. It only fuels conspiracy theories and unfairly smears the team.”

Matshe noted that Hugo Broos’s side, buoyed by their 2023 AFCON bronze medal finish, have matured into genuine contenders and could still qualify even if docked points.

“Bafana don’t need FIFA’s helping hand to qualify. They are strong enough to get over the line on merit,” he insisted.

But critics elsewhere in Group C — including Nigeria, Rwanda, Benin and Lesotho — argue that FIFA’s inaction has distorted the standings and created unnecessary tension. Benin’s coach Gernot Rohr told Reuters this week:

“It is not normal that we don’t know the situation about the points on the log table before our games. Normally, South Africa should lose three points. FIFA should now very quickly give the decision.”

Rohr knows the precedent well: as Nigeria coach in 2018, his team forfeited a point after fielding suspended defender Shehu Abdullahi in a qualifier against Algeria.

Under FIFA’s disciplinary code, teams that field ineligible players forfeit the match, with opponents awarded a 3-0 win unless the original result was more advantageous.

South Africa, however, have argued that since Lesotho did not lodge a protest, the points should stand.

As it is, Bafana top the group with 17 points, three clear of the second-placed Benin and six above that of Nigeria in the third position.

A points deduction would slash that margin, potentially flipping the table and leaving the qualification race wide open with two matches to play.

The uncertainty has cast a shadow over a crucial October fixtures, with South Africa set to ‘host’ eliminated Zimbabwe in what should have been an home match to the latter, thus adding to the unfair play.

The Nigerian Football Federation has echoed the growing frustration, with the communication director, Dr. Ademola Olajire being quoted by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the federation was still awaiting FIFA’s decision.

For now, the giant question mark lingers. South Africa’s dream of a first World Cup appearance since 2010 remains alive — but so too does the cloud of controversy over Mokoena’s ineligible appearance.

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More than 1.5 million ticket applications from fans in 210 countries have been received by FIFA within 24 hours of the presale draw for the 2026 World Cup being launched, the governing body of world soccer said on Thursday.

The extraordinary global demand for the tournament came primarily from the United States, Mexico and Canada, followed by Argentina, Colombia, Brazil, England, Spain, Portugal and Germany.

The response highlighted the international appeal of the expanded 48-team tournament which will be hosted by Mexico, Canada and the U.S. and will feature 104 matches across 16 host cities.

The draw is open until 11:00 ET (17:00 CET) on September 19, and the time of entry does not affect fans’ chances of securing tickets.

Successful applicants will be notified via email starting September 29 and given designated time slots to purchase tickets beginning October 1.

Tickets will start at $60, yet dynamic pricing will be in operation during the first phase of ticket sales with fans paying different prices according to market demand. Additional ticket sales phases are scheduled to begin in October.

-Reuters

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