The Super Eagles hopes of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup are hanging in the balance after they drew their third straight game Friday night when they forced a 1-1 draw with South Africa in the southern Nigeria town of Uyo.
52’ Nigeria 1-1 South Africa
— Oluwashina Okeleji (@oluwashina) June 7, 2024
Fisayo Dele-Bashiru with a quick turn to level in the 46th minute. pic.twitter.com/vzDYKK3XZq
The result meant that Nigeria dropped to fourth in Group C with three points from as many matches, while South Africa are third on four points.
Lesotho are top of the standings with five points on the back of 2-0 win over Zimbabwe earlier Friday.
Rwanda are second in the group with for points and a goals difference than both Benin and South Africa.
Nigeria were stunned by a classy Themba Zwane goal halfway through this all-important World Cup qualifier.
Fisayo Dele-Bashiru drew Nigeria level immediately after the recess when he finished off a fine team play around the goal area with an assist by Alex Iwobi.
The home team created the better chances in the second half even though Bafana Bafana often tore through the Nigerian defence at will, but could not apply the final finish.
Goalkeeper Ronwen Williams denied Ademola Lookman in stoppage time he turned away a goal-bound effort for a corner.
Williams also saved off the feet of substitute Terem Moffi late in the contest.
The hosts started brightly and could have gone ahead as early as the third minute, but Paul Onuachu failed to direct his header goalwards.
On the eighth minute, Lookman saw his shot at goal miss target not by much, before South Africa gradually began to grow into this encounter.
Teboho Mokoena’s free kick brushed off the crossbar with Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali beaten.
The visitors will be rewarded in the 29th minute, when Themba Zwane took on the Nigerian defence on his own before he fired home the opening goal.
Benjamin Tanimu had to come to the rescue of the Super Eagles on 36 minutes, when goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali was beaten by a chipped effort, but the Tanzania-based defender headed to safety.
South Africa continued to pour forward, but Elias Mokwana failed to finish off another sleek attacking move even when he was face-to-face with Nwabali.
Three minutes to the break, Bafana goalkeeper Williams held on to a header by Onuachu.
Super Eagles Starting XI (4-3-3) vs South Africa: Nwabali-Osayi, Bassey, Benjamin Tanimu, Semi Ajayi (Onyedika 79) – Ndidi (Captain), Iwobi, Dele-Bashiru (Alhassan Yusuf 61) – Ademola Lookman, Onuachu (Moffi 79), Iheanacho (Chukwueze 66)
