WED SEPT 10 2025-theGBJournal| Nigeria’s faith now hangs in the balance after a nervy 1-1 draw with South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in their Group C encounter at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein, South Africa on Tuesday.
The draw moves the South Africans closer to the 2026 World Cup, three points clear at the top with two games to play.
The Super Eagles presented the greater threat in the game but a disciplined South Africa defense line, buoyed by its vociferous home support, resisted.
William Troost-Ekong own goal in the 25th minute of the game gifted South Africa the lead, and left the Super Eagles sweating for the rest of night.
However, Calvin Bassey leveled the score with a powerful header in the closing minute of the first half.
Both sides displayed colorful, gritty attacking football throughout the 90 minutes of play plus added 8 minutes.
Nigeria stays in third spot behind Benin Republic who thrashed Lesotho 4-0 on neutral ground-Cote de Ivoire, to go three points behind South Africa.
The draw means that South Africa is now well placed in the race for an automatic berth, while Nigeria will need a nail-biting finish in their final two matches to sniff a glance at the play-off route.
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