World football governing body FIFA has named Gabonese referee Pierre Ghislain Atcho to officiate the crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match between Nigeria’s Super Eagles and South Africa.
The fixture will take place on Tuesday at the Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein as part of Matchday 8 of the African qualifiers.
According to FIFA’s announcement, Atcho will lead the officiating team, supported by his compatriots Boris Marlaise Ditsoga and Amos Abeigne Ndong as assistant referees, with Cregue Fleury Moukagni serving as the fourth official.
Additional officials include Olivier Safari Kabene from the Democratic Republic of Congo, appointed as referee assessor, and Ugandan Mike Letti, who will act as match commissioner, as per a September 5 release from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
The upcoming clash is regarded as one of the key matches in the qualification race, with both Nigeria and South Africa eager to secure vital points. Atcho, known for his experience in CAF Champions League matches, is expected to maintain fairness and composure throughout the heated encounter.
In a related update, Nigeria’s Super Eagles secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Rwanda in a tense World Cup qualifier at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.
The winning goal came in the 51st minute when substitute Tolu Arokodare capitalized on a scramble inside the Rwandan penalty area.
Despite losing star striker Victor Osimhen to injury in the first half, Nigeria’s defense, led by Calvin Bassey, held firm to claim all three points.
This win lifts Nigeria to 10 points from seven matches, closing in on group leaders South Africa, while Rwanda remains just behind on 8 points.
For the Uyo fixture, FIFA had appointed Chadian referee Allaou Mahamat, assisted by compatriots Bogollah Issa, Moussa Hafiz, and Abdelkerim Ousmane.
The referee assessor was Taher Abdelsalam Mahmoud of Egypt, with Bakary Jammeh from Gambia as commissioner.
