Nigeria’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup were dealt a devastating blow on Tuesday night after the Super Eagles were held to a 1-1 draw by South Africa in Bloemfontein.
The match started on a tense note, and in the 25th minute, disaster struck for Nigeria when defender William Troost-Ekong inadvertently turned the ball into his own net, gifting the hosts a 1-0 lead.
The error silenced the traveling Nigerian supporters and gave Bafana Bafana the upper hand.
However, just before halftime, the Super Eagles found their lifeline. In the 44th minute, Calvin Bassey charged forward from defense and connected with a well-placed cross to score a powerful flying header, restoring parity at 1-1.
Despite pushing hard in the second half, Nigeria failed to find a winning goal, leaving their qualification campaign hanging by a thread.
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With the result, the Super Eagles now sit second in the group with 11 points, trailing leaders South Africa, who have amassed 17 points.
The six-point gap at the top means Nigeria’s chances of booking a ticket to the 2026 World Cup are all but over, barring an unlikely sequence of results in the final fixtures.
This draw adds to growing concerns over the team’s performance, as fans and analysts question whether the once-feared Super Eagles can regain their place among Africa’s footballing elite.