Super Eagles Held to 1-1 Draw in Bloemfontein AS World Cup Hopes Fade

Nigeria’s quest for a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup suffered another setback on Tuesday as the Super Eagles were forced to a 1-1 draw by South Africa in Bloemfontein.

The game’s dramatic moments came from an unfortunate own goal by captain William Troost-Ekong and a powerful equalizer by Calvin Bassey.

The result leaves Nigeria in a precarious position. With just two matches remaining in the group stage, the Super Eagles sit on 11 points—level with Benin Republic, who still have a game in hand. South Africa remain firmly on top of Group C with 17 points, six ahead of Nigeria.

South Africa began the encounter with high intensity, making the most of their home advantage. Nigeria showed signs of life in the 10th minute when Ademola Lookman whipped in a fine cross from the right, forcing the hosts’ goalkeeper Foster into a decisive clearance.

In the 25th minute, Nigeria were undone as William Troost-Ekong mistakenly diverted the ball into his own net, handing South Africa the advantage. But just before the break, Calvin Bassey rose highest to head home a controversial yet emphatic equalizer that stunned the Bloemfontein crowd.

The restart saw Nigeria make bold changes—Arokodare replaced Dessers, while Onyemaechi came in for Troost-Ekong. Arokodare almost made an instant impact, cutting in from the left and firing narrowly wide.

As the second half wore on, Nigeria began to dictate the pace, yet South Africa’s resilience held firm. The visitors launched wave after wave of attack in the closing minutes, but the all-important second goal never arrived.

When the final whistle blew, the Super Eagles were left ruing missed chances and dwindling hopes. With qualification hanging by a thread, Nigeria now face an uphill task to keep their World Cup dream alive.