The Super Eagles’ bid to revitalize their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign has been dealt a major blow after playing out a 1-1 draw with South Africa at the Free State Toyota Stadium, Footynaija.com reports.
The Super Eagles arrived in Bloemfontein with some wind in their sails following that narrow 1-0 win over Rwanda at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo to keep their hopes of booking a World Cup ticket alive.
Head coach Eric Chelle made three changes to the Super Eagles side that started that game in Uyo last week with skipper William Troost-Ekong, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Cyriel Dessers replacing Bruno Onyemaechi, Frank Onyeka and Victor Osimhen.
The Super Eagles suffered a huge setback in the early exchanges when Ola Aina hit the turf clutching his hamstring with just ten minutes of the game played, forcing Chelle into a substitution that saw Bright Osayi-Samuel enter the fray.
Fifteen minutes later, South Africa compounded Nigeria’s woes when a swift break ended with Troost-Ekong deflecting the ball past a despairing Stanley Nwabali.
That concession seemed to give vitality to the Super Eagles though. They looked a much livelier side and eventually clawed their way back into the game after Calvin Bassey rose highest to meet Dele-Bashiru’s cross on the stroke of half time.
The half time break saw Chelle wring the changes with Tolu Arokodare and Onyemaechi coming on in place of Dessers and Troost-Ekong and the Super Eagles started the second half brightly.
However, as the game wore on, Eric Chelle’s side lost their edge and another injury blow, this time to Wilfred Ndidi, did nothing to help their cause.
The game eventually ended with the points shared, leaving South Africa at the top of Group C with 17 points. Nigeria temporarily climb up to second-place with 11 points pending the result of the game between Benin and Lesotho.