South Africa got a massive draw against Nigeria to boost their chances of going of going to the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
The South Africans needed a win or a draw to stay in hunt for their first mundial since after hosting the world in 2010, while Nigeria needed to win to rediscover their World Cup dream.
However the draw against the Rainbow country leaves a rare of hope for Nigeria but their destiny certainly is no longer in their hands.
The South Africans shot into the lead in the 25th minute through an own goal from Captain William Ekong when the Nigerian defence was put under pressure by the pacy and physically fit Bafana Bafana.
The Super Eagles however seem to have woken from their cautious approach after the goal and fought hard to get the equaliser in the 44th minute through Calvin Bassey,who had to threw himself to the ball to nod home from Fisayo Dele-Bashiru pull out.
The second half started with both sides cautiously coming into the game but both sides could not break down each others defence line despite the changes from Eric Chelle and Hugo Broos.
For South Africa, their home invincibility continues as Nigeria was the only team to pick a point from Bafana Bafana on home ground just as the record of not losing at Bloemfontein since the loss to Spain in a Confederation Cup some years ago still stands.
The youthful and strong South Africans fought to prove that they are a new generation not afraid of Nigeria any longer unlike in the past when the South Africans were just their for slaughter.
Once again, the result of the match shows the state of the Super Eagles two wins in eight games all against Rwanda,home and away,is not good enough to engender hope that the Eagles can fly to the mundial next year.
Youthful Mbekezeli Mbokazi who was solid at the back and joined the attack during transition was voted deservedly Man of the Match.
In 18 games between the two countries now, eight has ended in draw,while Nigeria had won eight and South Africa four.
Speaking after the match, Hugo Broos said it was a fight between both countries but ‘we played well in the first half’ but the physicality of Nigerians in the second half frustrated the boys.
The South African Coach said ‘Mbokazi deserves to be the man of the match.He is still 19. He is very strong, good on the ball, as well as the other players, who came in and we did it and achieve the result we need.’
‘We need just one more win to go to the world cup and the way we played today against Nigeria was good and the fans were really needed and they were good,’ Broos said.
While the South African have the luxury of thinking a win again will land them at the world cup, Nigeria must win the remain two games against Lesotho and Benin Republic.
Regrettably, Nigeria’s best bet now to qualify for the mundial seems to be through a play off, which is also not even guaranteed given the points haul of teams in other groups.
