3.9.2025
South Africa will now play their World Cup group C qualifier games against Lesotho Friday and Nigeria on Tuesday at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein.
This was after an inspection of the facility on Tuesday by FIFA and CAF officials. The soccer governing bodies had asked the matches to be moved, even when Lesotho who are playing at home in South Africa had not made any complain.
Lesotho FA communications manager Mikia Kalati said in an interview TimesLIVE on Wednesday: “Logistically it would have been a nightmare for us to move the game to Dr Molemela Stadium as we had sold tickets for the match to be played at Free State Stadium. Fifa and Caf contacted us again on Tuesday and assured us we could play Bafana at Free State Stadium.”
Free State Stadium has a capacity of 42,000 and Molemela Stadium 22,000.
Safa issued a statement on Tuesday evening saying the Nigeria game was also remaining at its original venue.
“Considering the encouraging progress observed on the pitch, both organisations [Caf and Fifa] have agreed the matches will proceed as originally scheduled at Free State Stadium,” Safa said.
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