Nigeria’s road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals remain rough after the Super Eagles could only force South Africa’s Bafana Bafana to a 1-1 draw at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein on Tuesday.



The Group C leaders started with a scorching pace asking several questions from both wings of the Nigerian rearguard, and their fortune was helped somewhat after only eight minutes when wing-back Olaoluwa Aina sustained an injury while driving down to the right to ask his own questions of the Bafana defence. He had to be replaced by Bright Osayi-Samuel.



The Super Eagles’ fighting spirit was diminished for a period after team captain William Ekong inadvertently swept the ball into his own net in the 25th minute, wrong-footing Stanley Nwabali to give the Bafana the lead and great impetus.



Defender Calvin Bassey showed immense fighting spirit and resilience to get Nigeria back into the game with a minute left of the first period, when he ran with the ball upfront. The ball found Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, whose pull-out Bassey met firmly to nod past Ronwen Williams for the leveller.



The second half promised so much but delivered little, though substitute Tolu Arokodare and Dele-Bashiru had opportunities to win it for Nigeria.



The draw means the Super Eagles are now on 11 points from 8 matches, with their next game away to Lesotho at the same venue on 10th October. 

Author: newadmin

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