Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification hopes suffered a crushing setback on Tuesday night after being held to a 1-1 draw by South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in Bloemfontein.
The outcome leaves Nigeria’s possibilities of securing an computerized ticket nearly unattainable, with simply two video games left to play.
With Bafana Bafana main Group C on 17 factors and Nigeria caught on 11 from eight matches, the Tremendous Eagles now face an uphill battle to keep away from lacking a second successive World Cup, having additionally didn’t qualify for Qatar 2022.
The Eagles, already hampered by the absence of injured talisman Victor Osimhen, endured an early blow when Ola Aina limped off within the seventh minute. South Africa capitalised halfway by the primary half as captain William Troost-Ekong inadvertently turned Mohau Nkota’s cross into his personal internet.
Nigeria responded earlier than halftime, with Calvin Bassey powering residence an excellent header from Tom Dele-Bashiru’s pinpoint supply. Regardless of controlling a lot of the second half and carving out clear possibilities for Ademola Lookman, Alex Iwobi, and Tolu Arokodare, the decisive aim by no means got here.
Head coach Eric Chelle, nonetheless, refused to criticise his gamers, praising their effort in a tough away tie.
“We tried, [the players] gave all the things to attempt to win and, like I stated, it’s tough to return right here and hope for a win as a result of this crew is excellent, their wingers are very quick, and the striker retains the ball properly,” stated Chelle.
“Throughout this sport, for simply 10 seconds, we weren’t in an excellent place they usually killed us, so after that we got here again within the sport as a result of we have been prepared for that, and the mind-set of the gamers was to return again and attempt to rating a aim, however South Africa is an effective crew.”
Chelle additionally admitted the draw leaves Nigeria’s qualification hopes in a precarious place, with Lesotho and Benin nonetheless to return and their destiny depending on Bafana slipping up towards Zimbabwe or Rwanda.
READ ALSO: World Cup Qualifier: Senegal rally in Kinshasa, Cape Verde lengthen lead
“We’re skilled, so it’s nonetheless two video games and for positive these gamers need to win these two video games, however at this second it’s tough for us as a result of we needed to win [against Bafana, and I think we did everything [to try and win,” he added.
“So in the last two games, a lot of things can happen in one month, and for sure a lot of things about the points, about the team, about everything, so we just need to analyse this game again and after that we’ll see in the last two games.”
For the Super Eagles, it was a night of frustration and regret, where commitment could not be converted into three points.
