Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign took another hit on Tuesday as the Super Eagles were held to a 1-1 draw by South Africa in Bloemfontein. An early own goal from captain William Troost-Ekong and a first-half equalizer from Calvin Bassey summed up a tense clash that leaves Nigeria’s qualification hopes hanging in the balance.
The Super Eagles now sit on 11 points, level with Benin Republic, who still have a game in hand. Meanwhile, South Africa’s Bafana Bafana lead Group C with 17 points, putting them in pole position with just two matches remaining.
From the opening whistle, South Africa pushed forward aggressively, using their home advantage to unsettle Nigeria’s defense. Their breakthrough came in the 25th minute, when an unfortunate own goal by William Troost-Ekong gifted Bafana Bafana the lead.
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Nigeria showed resilience and responded just before halftime. Defender Calvin Bassey rose highest to head home a controversial yet powerful equalizer that silenced the Bloemfontein crowd and restored hope for the visitors.
In the second half, Nigeria coach introduced Arokodare and Onyemaechi in a bid to inject pace and creativity. Arokodare nearly made an immediate impact with a sharp run and a narrowly missed effort, but South Africa’s defense remained solid.
Despite sustained pressure in the final minutes, Nigeria failed to find the winning goal. The 1-1 draw leaves their World Cup qualifying dreams in jeopardy, with only two matches left to keep hopes alive.
